Berries are brilliant. Well I think so and nutritionists do too. Berries not only taste pretty good but they are full of anti-oxidants --– those little phytonutrients that work magic against free radicals and are thought to be anti-aging, disease risk preventing and even symptom curing. They are also really easy to eat and most are best as nature intended ---– raw. Here are 7 berries you should eat.
These really should be renamed the ladyberry because many a woman swears by them when it comes to problems with the urinary tract. It’s quite often a sign that when a woman sticks a carton of cranberry juice in the fridge at work, she’s suffering from cystitis. The next time you buy a mouthwash, you might find it contains a compound from the cranberry - proanthocyanidine because it prevents plaque formation on teeth.
This strange dry tasting berry, usually from Tibet, contains more Vitamin C than an orange and on the anti-oxidant scale has way way way more than prunes, cherries, blueberries and Kale. Not only do they do you good, if you buy certified berries from Tibet, you are also helping the economy of a developing nation.
One of the berries you should eat is very often the first item that people write down on a list of superfoods. The blue colour comes from compounds called anthocyanin, one of the most powerful anti-oxidants. This has been found to be efficacious in slowing down macular deterioration, i.e. vision impairment that comes with age. Ladies might also like to know that the polyphenols in blueberries help in the production of collagen which keeps skin supple and reduces wrinkles.
This beautiful red fruit is rich in ellagic acid which is the phytonutrient that is being toted as a potent cancer fighter. This is another one of the berries you should eat if you are concerned about macular degeneration. Raspberries contain loads of Vitamin C, folic acid, fibre and plenty of metallic minerals.
Strawberries contain a good dose of the full range of nutrients found in other berries including Vitamin C, B5 and K. Strawberries do not ripen after they have been picked so buy them as fresh as possible and use within a few days – this is equally applicable to all berries.
One of the berries you should eat, you may not have heard of. These are often referred to as European Blueberries. They are similar in taste to blueberries but about a third of the size. These are particularly good for eye health including improvement in night vision. This was first indicated by British Royal Airforce Pilots who noticed that they had better night vision on bomb raids when they ate preserves made from bilberries beforehand.
Hippocrates, the Greek physician called the elder tree his medicine chest in 400BC and the properties he recognized then were used to treat symptoms of conditions such as colds, flu, arthritis and constipation. It is still widely used in Germany and England. They contain lots of anti-oxidants, anthocyanins and anti-viral compounds. Please note that elderberries are mildly poisonous if eaten raw. The toxicity is killed by cooking and elderberries are used in jams, jellies and particularly, home made wine. Elderberries contain plenty of antioxidants, anti-viral compounds, anthocyanins that help enhance immune function, and compounds that help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Have you noticed how the fruits contained in this list of berries you should eat are highly colorful? It’s the phytonutrients that give the berries their colour and therefore the deeper and more concentrated the colour, the greater the nutrients. Whenever you are choosing berries to buy, don’t go for the biggest. Go for the brightest. Enjoy!
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