It's that time of year! Mulberry trees grow very well in Illinois and sometimes are messy (but yummy!)
Berries cause stress at your home and rental properties when they start to fall. Mulberry trees can be messy, especially when they are in full fruit. The berries can stain surfaces, attract insects, and make a mess on walkways and driveways. Here are some tips on how to deal with messy mulberry trees if, like me, you love being green and eating local and don't want to cut them down:
Prune the tree to reduce the amount of fruit. This will not eliminate the mess entirely, but it will help to reduce it.
Lay down a tarp or sheet under the tree during the fruiting season. This will help to catch the berries and make cleanup easier.
Clean up the berries regularly. This will help to prevent them from staining surfaces or attracting insects.
My favorite: harvest them from the sheets/tarps (or pay one of your tenants to) when they fall, and then make yummy food from them!
Mulberry Benefits
Mulberries taste like blackberries but much sweeter, so you don't need to add much sugar when cooking with them. You can't buy them at stores because they don't travel well.
According to healthifyme.com, mulberries also have many health benefits:
1. Good for Your Kidneys
The health of your kidneys is essential to remove wastes and extra fluid from your body efficiently. In addition, they further eliminate acid produced by your body’s cells. According to a study, mulberry extracts benefit those suffering from kidney damage caused by diabetes. It occurs due to metabolic disorders. And is known as diabetic nephropathy. Mulberry extracts help improve insulin resistance, oxidative stress and reduce inflammation in the body.
2. Makes Your Hair Healthy
Melanin is a natural pigment that determines hair color. Your hair turns grey or white when the production of melanin slows down. According to research, mulberry aids the production of melanin. In addition, it retains the natural color of your hair. So, one suffering from premature greying of the hair benefits from it. If you want healthy hair, you should have mulberry juice regularly. To promote hair growth, you can directly apply mulberry juice to your hair.
3. Brightens Your Skin
Mulberry extracts brighten your skin by treating pigmentation. Furthermore, it evens out skin tone and reduces dark spots. Resveratrol, found in mulberries, protects the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, and the antioxidants are great anti-aging agents. Amongst them, Beta-carotene neutralizes the free radicals. Mulberry also has vitamins A, C, and E that remove wrinkles.
4. Good for Your Lungs.
Mulberry is good for you if you have contracted a lung infection. As per a study, mulberries inhibit two pathogens responsible for lung infections. These are influenza viruses and Pneumococci. Even the root bark of the mulberry tree has antiviral and antibacterial properties. So, mulberries aid in keeping your lungs healthy.
5. Leads to Weight Loss
As per research, mulberries, especially black mulberries, have pectin. Pectin is a fiber usually found in fruits. It acts as a laxative to help stool pass through the bowels. Thus, mulberries facilitate digestion. This benefit relieves us from constipation, bloating, and stomach cramps. Mulberries also help people lose fat and tone their bodies.
6. Help Increase Blood Circulation
The high iron content in mulberries boosts the production of red blood cells. In simple terms, mulberry increases oxygen distribution to essential tissues and organs. As a result, it boosts metabolism and enhances body functioning. They are also rich in antioxidants which improve the functioning of the blood vessels by dilating them. It further ensures the regulation of blood pressure by enabling a free flow from the heart to other body parts.
7. Improve Vision
According to a study, Zeaxanthin is one of the carotenoids found in mulberries. It further acts as an antioxidant and prevents retinal damage. Furthermore, it removes the free radicals that can cause macular degeneration and cataracts. Mulberry tea improves eyesight according to traditional Chinese medicine.
8. Reduce the Risk of Cancer
According to research, mulberries have many anthocyanins and pharmaceutical ingredients with anti-cancer effects. The presence of resveratrol also prevents the growth of cancer cells. They together fight colon cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, and thyroid. Anthocyanins and other metabolites like resveratrol are essential and can possibly change the face of human cancer in the future.
9. Improves Immunity
As per a study, mulberries use the alkaloids in the macrophages to activate them. They boost our immunity and keep us alert. In addition, mulberry is also a good source of vitamin C and is, thus, a potent immunity booster. Polyphenols ensure the health of the blood vessels by promoting immunity to foreign pathogens via various pathways. They activate these signaling pathways to initiate immune responses. Furthermore, potassium lowers blood pressure to keep immunity in check.
10. Mulberry Builds Bone Tissue
Vitamin K, calcium, and iron are the best nutrients that enable the buildup of bone tissues. Mulberry has all of them. The presence of these nutrients stops bone degradation and bone disorders. For example, osteoporosis and arthritis are common degenerative conditions that can be avoided by consuming mulberry..
As per research, mulberries can carry on the task of building bone tissues due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Try mulberries in these recipes:
Add a handful of mulberries to a bowl of cold cereal or oatmeal.
Blend mulberries in a smoothie with other types of berries, as well as bananas, yogurt, and milk or a milk alternative.
Create a parfait with mulberries, granola, and yogurt.
Sprinkle mulberries into a spinach salad.
Crush mulberries and mix into pancake batter.
Use mulberries as a healthy topping for vanilla ice cream.
Replace blueberries with mulberries in muffins.
Conclusion
Whether you only contain their mess in your yards or you decide to be adventurous and cook with them, hopefully, mulberries won't be a source of stress for you this season. Enjoy!
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