Berries improve your health

Berries improve your health

It's a well-known fact that diets rich in veggies and fruits help prevent many diseases such as cancer, flu, heart diseases and many more. 

Maybe you know that even some of the smallest fruits are good for your health. I'm talking of berries eaten in their raw state.  

The positive effects of berries on the human body has been proved by scientists: A 2006 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that berries inhibit the rapid growth of human cancer cells, especially of breast cancer, oral cancer, colon and prostate cancer. 

The health-improving secret of berries 

That's why you should eat blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, red and black raspberries and strawberries:

Berries of all kinds, especially dark-coloured ones, are high in agents called antioxidants. You may already know these cancer-preventive agents as vitamins A, C, and E, folic acid, selenium, beta-carotene, calcium, lutein and alpha-carotene. 

In addition to that, berries contain high levels of phytochemicals that are good for your body as well. 

Berries in the battle against cancer and dementia

So how do antioxidants prevent cancer and fight diseases such as dementia?

The answer is really simple: Berries contain anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit the proliferation of "bad" (i.e. cancer) cells and cause the death of cancer cells. 

As for dementia, scientific studies have shown that berries of all kinds are able to increase the production of brain cells. Blueberries help improve motoric and cognitive deficiencies and inhibit oxidation of brain cells.

If you are a Type-II diabetes, you have to avoid (or at least minimize) the consumption of higher sweet fruits. But don't worry about eating berries because they are lower glycemic foods as for instance apples and pears. 

Berries are awesome fruits

To enjoy the amazing taste of berries you should mix berries of all kinds. Or simply put them into your morning smoothie. You can eat them with your morning cereal as well or in a salad.  

If you want to keep them fresh, put them into the freezer (all beneficial nutrients will stay alive).





Here's my favourite smoothie:      

Raspberry Smoothie

1 cup (250 ml) raspberry juice, 3/4 cup (175 ml) raspberry yoghurt (fat free), 1/2 cup (125 ml) frozen raspberries, 1/2 mango, 1/2 cup (125 ml) ice

(makes 2 servings)



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Photo of the berries:
http://piqs.de/fotos/140374.html  (photographer: jjjj56cp, title: 227e ripening berries)
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