Since we’re in full summer I thought it would be interesting to give you a little information regarding some of the giants of Mother Nature, the diminutive berry.
An overwhelming body of research has firmly established that the dietary intake of berries is helpful in preventing disease and promoting health. And we are all about health and prevention here, aren’t we?
Not only do berries taste wonderful but they are bursting with fibre, vitamins, minerals and many antioxidants that our bodies need. There are many berries available but I will only review the ones that are readily available to our area at this time of year.
First off the bat, we have the all so beautiful blue beauty, the wild blueberry. Blueberries have a very high oxygen radical absorption capacity score which means that they are powerful disease fighters which protect cells from free radical damage. They contain 9.7mg of vitamin C and 2.4g of fibre.
We are just coming into blueberry season now. Good luck picking and fighting off the bears!
Our next berry star is the raspberry which contains large amounts of a compound that studies have shown iare very potent for cancer prevention. They are also an excellent source of fibre, 6.5g , manganese and vitamin C, 26.2mg.
Now strawberries are no slouch either. They are also high in Vitamin C, the highest of all with 58.8mg, and 2.g of fibre. It is said that they also contain compounds associated with decreased rates of cancer death.
Have a bladder infection? Then start drinking cranberry juice! Why? Because cranberries decrease the ability of infection-causing E. coli to stick to cell walls.
More recent studies suggest that cranberries may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health and also prevent the formation of kidney stones.
We’re not done yet.
Cranberries exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce heart disease, protect the brain from stress and decrease the effects of macular degeneration, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
These round, red beauties sure pack a great health punch!
Don’t forget to put berries in your daily nutritional shake. It adds a wonderful flavor plus gives you many needed nutrients.
We are often told to only eat those fruits and vegetables that are in season in your area. But flash frozen berries are available year round or you can get specially formulated berry powder concentrates that will deliver more than eating a bowl full. If you find a really good one, it should be pesticide and herbicide free and ideally composed of raw ingredients.
Tags: antioxidant, berries, cancer fighting
