Salal berries berry is also known as gaultheria or shallon. It is native to North America. The scientific name is Gaultheria shallon. The salal shrub grows to 5 feet tall and with evergreen which is thick, sturdy and it has egg – shaped leaves. The berries have dark blue color. This plant is edible from the fruit to the young leaves. This is one of the best appetite suppressants and it has a good flavor.
These berries were essential food source for native people. North Americans ate salal berries fresh or they dried them and made them into cakes. Also, they were making salal berries into jam and preserved them. Also, they were using salal berries as a sweetener. In some cases, they used the leaves of salal berries to flavor fish soup. These berries have many health benefits but if you consume too many young leaves to deal with appetite, then it can lead to digestion problems.
It is known fact that salal berries have two components – tannins (it is found in the plant tissues, such as leaves and bark) and anthocyanins (it is producing red or blue colors in certain plants) which are both correlated with reduced risk of stroke and heart attack, as well as neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabates. Salal berries have 4 – 5 times higher concentrations of tannins compared to blueberry and 3 times more antioxidant capacity than blueberry. Nowadays, the demand for salal berries is increased due to knowledge of their health benefits.
Health benefits of salal berries
Prevent the degeneration: Salal berries are rich in vitamins and antioxidants which can help to block the degeneration. Also, they can help us to have a long and sustaining life. Salal berries are some of the best fruits which can help to overcome the danger of chronic disease. Salal berries are not as tasty as other thimbleberries, like huckleberries, but they have a good flavor and you can easily find them. You should pull the entire pink stem of berries off and process them all at once because this is the easiest way to crop them.
Help your digestion: These berries have fiber which can help to prevent the constipation and it can help to normalize the gut health. Also, this element can help to drop cholesterol and it will diminish the risk of heart diseases and some types of cancers. Many adults eat only half the amount of fiber which is recommended by doctors so they should eat the right dose of fiber and in this way they will keep their health.
Assist to reduce inflammation: There are some studies in which are said that the leaves of salal berries can be used in tinctures and teas due to their astringent properties. The leaves of salal berries are used to reduce the inflammation of the sinuses, tackle diseases like heartburn and reduce the bladder inflammation.
Protect you from many diseases: It is known fact that these berries can help to stay protected from many different diseases, such as retinopathy diabetic, kidney disease, cataracts, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, varicose veins and cardiovascular diseases. These berries have flavenoids which can help your body to stay away from the mentioned diseases.
Appetite suppressant: There are some studies in which are found that people who chewed the leaves of these berries have noticed that their appetite is suppressed. You can use the young leaves of the these berries as appetite suppressant. Also, if you want to lose weight, then you can consume these leaves. You should stop eating cakes and start eating healthy. Salal berries are one of the best choices for you. Also, it is known fact that salal berries can help you to get a relief from the heartburn or colic.
Antioxidant properties: It is known fact that these berries are rich in Vitamin C. This fruit is acting as antioxidant which can help you to stay safe from the dangerous effects of free radicals. If you want to have healthy teeth, skin and hair, then you should start using these berries in your diet.
when those nasty tasting goji berries were all the rage I commented often that our salal berries here on the Oregon Coast were just as likely to be a super food as were the Himalayan gojis. And why not eat what is nearest to your mouth? Salal is on the path as we hike. Eat it. Enjoy and savor every bit of the berry and freshest leaves. Gather the older ones for tincture making. Take only what you need. Use all that you take. Leave behind much for prosperity’s future.