Benefits of Berries

The health benefits of berries have been well documented, but which variey should you eat, and for

what reason? The good news is that all berries are good for you, containing high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, but some varieties have extra therapeutic properties.

Strawberries

Strawberries are versatile, delicious and when they are in season, they are inexpensive to buy. They are also reasonably easy to grow, so would make an excellent addition to your home veggie garden. Strawberries are packed with natural nutrition, and studies have found that they can protect the stomach lining from damage caused by alcohol consumption. (And no, this is not giving you permission to drink more alcohol!)

Blueberries

Blueberries are also packed with nutrition, and are full of antioxidants. In particular, they contain anthocyanins which are great at reducing oxidative stress that contributes to ageing. Blueberries have also been attributed to reducing the impact of gout which is caused by an increase in uric acid in the system.

Maqui Berries

The purplish pigment of maqui berries contain specific anthocyanins called delphinidins that help reduce inflammatory activity withing the body. Other purple berries and flowers contains anthocyanins too, but it is the maqui berries that are like super foods and can help inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells, and may also help reduce bacterial diseases too.

Goji Berries

Goji berries are convenient to eat as they are sundried and eaten like sultanas. In Australia, goji berry juice is more commonly used, but it needs to be from a reputable supplier in order to keep the juice as natural as possible without too much added sugar, and keeping all the natural goodness of the goji berry itself.

Acai Berries

Acai berries have twice as many antioxidants as blueberries and the highest ORAC level of any berry (ORAC is an antioxidant measurement). Acai berries are also high in protein, contain essential fatty acids similar to those found in virgin olive oil and are high in trace and macro minerals.

Cranberries

Cranberries have been well recognised in the past for their amazing health benefits, especially when it comes to urinary tract diseases and their prevention of periodontal gum disease and ulcers. Studies have also shown that regularly drinking cranberry juice may also help prevent prostate and other cancers.

Why not mix and match your berries to add flavour, colour and plenty of nutrition!

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