What are Blackberry Benefits to your Health?
Blackberries are a delicious little "aggregate fruit" that grow wild on thorny bushes and are cultivated on every temperate continent. Composed of many individual drupelets, each like a small berry with one seed, each drupelet contributes extra skin, seeds and pectin with dietary fiber value to the nutritional content of blackberries, making them among the highest fiber content plants in the world.
Blackberries can be eaten fresh, frozen and canned and are popularly made into jams, juices, desserts. Rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, blackberries are highly nutritious and rich in antioxidants. They are also low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat, making them one of the best fruits out there for a balanced diet.
Blackberries bestow a number of health and nutritional benefits on their consumers. If you want to know more about them, read further.
Nutritional Value of Blackberry
Given below is the amount of nutrients in 100 gm of blackberry:
| Water - 86 gm | Energy - 52 kcal (218 kj) | Protein - 0.720 gm | Fats - 0.390 gm | Carbohydrate - 12.76 gm | Total Dietary Fiber - 5.3 gm | Calcium - 32 mg | Iron - 0.57 mg | Magnesium - 20 mg | Phosphorus - 21 mg |
| Potassium - 196 mg | Zinc - 0.27 mg | Copper - 0.14 mg | Manganese - 1.3 mg | Selenium - 0.6 mcg | Vitamin C - 21 mg | Folate - 34 mcg | Vitamin A - 165 IU | Vitamin A - 16 mcg | Vitamin E - 0.710 mg |
Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Blackberries
Immune-Strengthening
Blackberries are a rich source of Vitamin C, containing twice as much as blueberries. Vitamin C is vital for our immune systems and for cardiovascular health. It is useful in the prevention and treatment of heart and circulatory problems, and protective against cancers, degenerative diseases and infection. It also helps to improve the absorption of iron from other foods eaten at the same time, so is associated with reducing the risk of anemia.
Digestive health
Blackberries are very high in fiber compared with most other fruits. Fiber is important for the gut to function well, makes the digestion of certain foods easier, and helps to maintain a healthy weight. A high fiber diet also reduces the risk of developing fatal diseases like heart disease and type-2 diabetes.
Healing
Blackberries, and blackberry leaves in particular, are rich in tannins, the same substances that give tea its astringent or tart aftertaste.
They have antiseptic properties, so when the leaves are made into a tea they are an excellent mouthwash for gum problems and infections such as gingivitis, as well as an effective gargle for sore throats. When applied to the skin, they tighten tissue, help to constrict blood vessels, and lessen minor bleeding in wounds.
Blackberries have been found to have anti-bacterial properties and can even help cleanse blood.
Cancer-Fighting
Blackberries are a rich source of anthocyanins, a group of plant pigments thought to have antioxidant properties. Some anthocyanins inhibit the growth of tumor cells. They also contain the chemical C3G, which belongs to a group of compounds known as flavonoids, shown to be effective against skin cancer and lung cancer.
Eye-Protecting
Blackberries contain lutein, which protects the eye by forming pigments in the macula, the light sensitive area at the back of the retina. Lutein helps to prevent eye damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.
Bone Building
Just a handful of blackberries provides nearly half of an average recommended daily intake of manganese ? making them an excellent source of the mineral. Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, vital for building strong bone structure.
Taken from:
lifestyle.iloveindia.com
healthdiaries.com
healthymuslim.com
Other links:
Nutritional & Health Benefits of Cherries
Health Benefits of Strawberries
Health Benefits of Grapes
Fig, The heavenly fruit
