Darker Berries have Exceptional Health Benefits

Dark-skin berries such as blueberry, boysenberry and elderberry can have as much as 50% more antioxidants compared to their lighter colored cousins. Antioxidants, which includes vitamin C, help protect against free radicals (scavenger molecules that damage healthy cells in your body). Eating berries can lower risk for certain cancers, protect urinary tract health, and promote healthy aging.

Blueberry and Cranberry, both the berry and the juice, help reduce inflammation and are beneficial for preventing and treating recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections. They contain a powerful antioxidant (proanthocyanidin, or PAC) and D-mannose which can prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. Blueberry is easier to prepare and digest compared to cranberry. For people who don’t like or can’t digest cranberries, a PAC or D-mannose supplement may be a better option.

Boysenberry is a hybrid of blackberry, loganberry and raspberry. It’s juicy and sweet with a bit of tang and contains vitamins C and K, folate, and manganese, which play an important role in immunity, anti-inflammatory response, digestive and cardiovascular health.

Elderberry is an immunity-boosting berry packed with vitamins C, A, B6 and iron and potassium. It’s on the tart side, but can be sweetened with organic honey and is commonly used to make teas and jam. The flavonoids in elderberry compare to Tamiflu, an anti-influenza medication.

Try a variety of the dark berries; from bitter to tart to sweet, there’s a berry for everybody!

 

Resources
Skrovankova, Sona et al. “Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Different Types of
Berries.” Ed. Maurizio Battino. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 16.10 (2015):
24673–24706. PMC. 

Oregon State University “Berry Health Benefits.”

Blumberg, Jeffrey B. et al. “Cranberries and Their Bioactive Constituents in Human Health.”
Advances in Nutrition 4.6 (2013): 618–632. PMC. Web. 

Hisano, Marcelo et al. “Cranberries and Lower Urinary Tract Infection Prevention.” Clinics
(2012) 67:6, 661–667. PMC. 

Jensen, Heidi D. et al. “Cranberry Juice and Combinations of Its Organic Acids Are Effective
against Experimental Urinary Tract Infection.” Frontiers in Microbiology 8 (2017): 542. PMC.

Ho, Giang T. T. et al. “Immunomodulating Activity of Aronia Melanocarpa Polyphenols.”
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 15.7 (2014): 11626–11636. PMC. Web. 27 June
2017.