It's Berry Season: Go Wild Eating Your Favorites

Berries are extremely high in vitamin C, high in fiber, and low in calories.  Vitamin C is important to helping our body reduce tension and boost the immune system. Fiber helps to regulate our blood sugar levels.  Regulating blood sugar levels is important because drastic changes in our blood sugar can cause us to have mood swings, which may contribute to anxiety. Most importantly, all berries fight inflammation, a major proponent for many types of cancers and chronic diseases. 

Scientists are deeming resveratrol the magic ingredient. The study fed mice a high-fat diet. Some were give daily doses of antioxidant resveratrol in amounts that would equal 12 ounces of fruit per day for a human. Mice who ate a diet of 0.1% resveratrol gained 40% less weight than those who didn't. 

Another study published in the journal Cell, found that this fat-fighting chemical has anti-aging properties and even fight cancer which we've noted in other articles. Try eating red grapes, cranberries, blueberries and raspberries

Even consider Goji Berries, a superfood that contains fatty acids and B vitamins, that are essential to keep your energy up and relieve stress.  

Health Benefits of Berries

1. Blueberries: Recent research has focused on blueberries as a particularly concentrated source of flavonoids. With their deep, rich color it is no surprise that these small berries are packed with these pigmented molecules. Specifically, anthocyanin, the flavonoid which gives the fruit its blue hue, is a potent antioxidant. In fact, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture, blueberries are near the top of the pyramid when it comes to antioxidant activity per servings, only surpassed by red beans.

2. Raspberries: Raspberries:These pretty red berries contain high amounts of quercetin and kaemferol, two of the the most highly broadly beneficial antioxidants for fighting inflammation as we discussed. This creates major benefits for the heart, liver, brain and other organs and helps fight chronic diseases. 

3. Blackberries: Did you know herbalists use these blackberries and raspberries for simple and tasty tonics called oxymels? These can actually soothe sore throats and relieve colds. 

4. Wild Strawberries: Rich in iron, potassium, and vitamin C, the wild version of summer’s most popular berry is it's much tinier than regular strawberries and has an intense and absolutely delicious flavor that is much sweeter and more aromatic than the large cultivated strawberries that are sold in supermarkets