Benefits of Berries
Packed with vitamin C and antioxidant compounds, these delicious superfoods help protect our skin against the hot summer sun (if we’re lucky enough to see it!) and help build immunity ready for winter.
Our immune systems need a regular supply of antioxidants. Not eating enough leaves us prone to infections, inflammation, and slow recovery.
It’s the antioxidant compounds that give berries their colourful hues. Blue and purple berries are rich in anthocyanins, as are dark coloured grapes. Anthocyanins are known to protect tiny blood vessels against inflammatory damage, especially the fragile vessels in our eyes and brain. Other nutrients in blueberries and bilberries help our eyes adapt to low-light conditions, which is why they have a reputation for helping us see better at night.
Strawberries and raspberries are packed with vitamin C, fibre, and ellagic acid – a natural fruit acid shown to fight bacterial and viral infections. Fancy a change from berries? Pomegranates and walnuts supply plenty of ellagic acid too.
Are frozen berries as good for us as fresh? Sometimes, yes! If they are frozen within hours of being picked, much of the nutrient content is preserved. Some of the vitamin C is lost when defrosting, but equally a lot of vitamin C is lost from fresh berries if they sit too long in a warehouse or under bright supermarket lights.
Frozen or fresh, it’s a great idea to enjoy all the different berries at this time of year.
Post written by Sally Duffin.