Berries are true super foods, rich in fibre and phytochemicals and low in calories, they have the highest Aggregate Nutrient Density Index scores of all fruits.
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries are vibrantly coloured with antioxidant phytochemicals, and they are some of the highest antioxidant foods in existence.
The deep red, blue and purple pigments of berries are produced by flavonoid antioxidant molecules called anthocyanins, which are concentrated in the skins of the fruits.
Flavonoids, including anthocyanins, are not merely antioxidants; they are thought to have a number of additional beneficial effects in the body that are unrelated to their antioxidant capacity.
A recent study investigated berry consumption in relation to risk for elevated blood pressure. Compared to eating no blueberries, just one serving per week decreased the risk of hypertension by 10%.
New findings recently published support these results with data in younger women (age 25-42 at the start) who were followed for 18 years. In these women, three or more weekly servings of blueberries or strawberries was linked to a 34% reduced risk of heart attack compared to lower intake of berries.
Studies using berries or berry phytochemicals in human participants or on human cells have uncovered some of the possible protective actions of berries on the cardiovascular system.
Berry flavonoids seem to act in several different ways to maintain heart health. In human subjects, researchers found that berries mitigated oxidative stress, decreased oxidation of LDL (which helps to prevent the production of atherosclerotic plaque), increased blood antioxidant capacity, and in some cases improved lipid levels, blood pressure or blood glucose.
Higher anthocyanin and berry intake is associated with reduced C-reactive protein (CRP), suggesting that berries may curb inflammation; additional studies have confirmed that berries have anti-inflammatory properties.
Berry phytochemicals also may enhance nitric oxide production in the blood vessels, which helps to properly regulate blood pressure
But don’t just wait for summer to eat berries, even during winter, we can get our daily dose of anthocyanins from frozen berries.
