Nutritionists Notebook: Berries
Veronika Powell MSc, Viva!Health
Berries are one of the most natural foods we can eat. They grow in many different environments and usually close to the ground so people had been gathering them long before they started farming. Berries have not only been important to human survival but they also offer a lot of health benefits.
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries — they are all rich in flavonoids which are bioactive compounds that are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and, according to science, can help protect blood vessels from damage and may help prevent type 2 diabetes and even Parkinson’s disease. One type of especially powerful flavonoids are called anthocyanins and are the pigments which give berries dark purple, red and blue colours.
All berries are an excellent source of vitamin C — an antioxidant that goes around the body mopping up damaging molecules called free radicals. It is also necessary for the growth and repair of all tissues in the human body as it helps to make collagen, an important protein which is one of the basic components in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. Plus — vitamin C helps the body absorb iron from diet!