Amazing Health Benefits of Berries

Berries are a good addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert and can be enjoyed on most diets, as they’re low in calories and carbs and widely available fresh or frozen.  Berries contain fiber, which can increase feelings of fullness, as well as reduce your appetite and the number of calories your body absorbs.

While low in calories, they are rich in several vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C and K, manganese, potassium, fiber, and prebiotics—which help promote a healthy gut.

Berries and other vibrant, brightly colored fruits and vegetables provide some of the highest levels of antioxidants as well.  These antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help protect your body from disease as you age. Research shows that berries deliver lots of benefits, including better cognitive health, helping prevent cancer, and can protect your cells from free radical damage. They can also reduce Inflammation and prevent Heart Disease while lowering blood pressure and improving blood vessel function. They have also been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and help protect it from becoming oxidized, which may also reduce your risk of heart disease. 

Berries contain the antioxidant ellagic acid, which may help decrease wrinkling and other signs of skin aging related to sun exposure and have been shown to reduce markers associated with tumor growth of several types of cancer, while their flavonoid content might prevent Parkinson’s disease.

Berries may also improve blood sugar and insulin response when consumed with high-carb foods or included in smoothies.

Locally grown berries are the freshest, and the price is best when berries are in season so consider buying extra to freeze. “Freezing doesn’t destroy any of the compounds — in fact, it may preserve some.  Frozen fruits and vegetables are the next best thing to fresh, last for months in your freezer, and you can buy in small packages in any grocery store like Trader Joes, or in bulk at places like Costco and Sam’s Club. 

To help fresh berries last longer at home, store them in a covered container in your refrigerator and don’t rinse ­them until you’re ready to eat them.  Lining a container with ­paper towels and removing the stems from strawberries will also help make them last for up to a week.

Read this Washington Post article: Why fresh berries are the most healthy, age-fighting foods around  This article goes more in depth on many of the above ideas and claims. 

This WebMD article describes the benefits of 15 different types of berries. Berries and Their Health Benefits