The healing powers of berries

Berries are one of the most popular food choices for many people around the world, not only because they are delicious, but as more and more people discover, also have huge health benefits.

Whether your berry of choice is the blueberry, goji berry, cranberry or any of the other members of this fruit group, you can enjoy the numerous advantages that go with making berries a regular part of your diet and ultimately improve not only your health but also your skin.

Here are some ways how berries can influence our overall health and skin:

Improved mental health

Studies have shown that women who eat one serving of blueberries a week improve their memory, suffer less from mental decline problems such as dementia and retain their learning capacities for up to two and a half years longer than their peers who do not consume these nutrient-dense fruits. The health benefits are largely attributed to compounds known as anthocyanidins and other flavonoids that act on the memory centers in the brain.

Diabetes control

All types of berries have a low glycemic index which means that they do not cause spikes in sugar levels which are known to result in diabetes and other insulin related disorders. In addition, berries contain natural sugars which do not require insulin to be metabolised, which means that they do not wreak havoc on your health and skin like refined sugars.

Weight control

Berries are packed full of fibre and consuming them often leaves you feeling more satisfied than eating low fibre options such as foods made with processed flours and sugars. As a result, you feel fuller for longer and are less tempted to reach for unhealthy snacks that can lead to weight gain or compromise your diet if you are trying to shed a few pounds.

Cancer prevention

Blueberries, raspberries and others are rich in flavonoids have been shown to reduce the risk of getting colon and many other cancers. Flavonoids are present in many rainbow coloured foods including berries and consuming a mix of different types of berries will help to optimise their cancer fighting properties.

Improved heart health

Berries are high in antioxidants and polyphenols which help to fight and prevent many diseases including cardiovascular problems. In addition, berries contain different compounds such as folate and rutin which widen the arteries, strengthen blood capillaries, improve circulation and prevent the buildup of dangerous plaque.

Berries are super fruits and offer numerous health benefits to people who incorporate them into their daily diet. You only need to consume a few servings of these nutritional powerhouses a day in order to begin reaping the rewards. Berries are an affordable and delicious option for people who are looking to prevent disease and manage health conditions and maintain beautiful skin.

What are your favourite berries? Share with us in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

21 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 04 Sep 2016
    8:46 am
i love strawberries and so do the kids. We have a local farm that lets you pick your own strawberries and they are very popular with the locals so they recently sold out

- - ella12 said
  - 30 Aug 2016
    4:41 pm
It’s a toss up between strawberries and raspberries.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 19 Jul 2016
    7:58 am
I remember seeing they are high in antioxidants. I wasn’t aware about blueberries being good for mental health, thats very great to hear

- - mom183717 said
  - 28 May 2016
    8:27 pm
Berries have super powers especially when chocolate coated

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 22 May 2016
    9:23 am
What a great read. I didnt know some of these points!

- - leveestee said
  - 25 Apr 2016
    11:07 pm
I knew that berries were great little things! However I think I still underestimated them! Great article!

- - readingwishes said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    10:01 pm
I love berries, all types! I didn’t grow up eating a lot of fresh, but they make a lovely treat in Summer. Fresh raspberries look like red gems!

- - mom103920 said
  - 12 Apr 2016
    9:25 am
Berries are very easy to grow and they have a fabulous flavour straight off the plant. Strawberries in particular will grow well in pots if you don’t have the room for larger berry plants like raspberries.

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 10 Apr 2016
    12:01 pm
Wow i did not realise!

- - mom57665 said
  - 07 Apr 2016
    12:15 am
No wonder I love berries so much

- - mom134803 said
  - 06 Apr 2016
    2:44 am
I love this picture with the basket full of berries…a delight for the eye !! Think blueberries are my favourite, just yum !

- - meedee said
  - 03 Apr 2016
    5:50 pm
Berries are wonderful.
I would love to have a bowl of berries daily but sadly im not that rich

- - Mum to one said
  - 03 Apr 2016
    9:32 am
I love berries I just wish they weren’t so expensive.. But I guess with this many Benefits it’s worth it!!
- EmbalmSkincare replied
  
  07 Apr 2016 , 9:21 am
  Blueberries can easily grown in pots and it’s so worth it and rewarding growing your own. Just keep the possums out
  - june11 replied
    
    25 Apr 2016 , 1:15 am
    
    Not just the possums, snails and slugs like them too, especially those down near the soil. After rain we have had them wriggle their way up garden bed old rough (not smooth) brick walls and wire trellises to have a good feed. The birds love some berries too
- - serotonin said
  - 01 Apr 2016
    10:23 pm
I didn’t realise berries are THIS powerful, wow! I’ll be eating lots more from now on.

- - mom112217 said
  - 01 Apr 2016
    2:44 pm
l love all berries and reading this article it is of great benefit as well!

- - rovermum said
  - 30 Mar 2016
    1:10 pm
I always have blueberries in the fridge. I love them with my muesli and yoghurt in the morning, or on pancakes with yoghurt. And strawberries! We love these, but struggle when they’re not in-season, or not the best version of themselves. Raspberries, we have in frozen form for smoothies. My son loves them. Me not so much. The bits in a smoothie drive me insane.

- - june11 said
  - 21 Mar 2016
    10:26 pm
I also love berries. The little ones prefer strawberries with yoghurt. For some unknown reason I sometimes have problems digesting strawberries., however I to have Gastric Eosophicus reflux disease.
My cousin’s daughter gets mouth ulcers if she eats strawberries and that is the only time she gets them.

- - mom90758 said
  - 21 Mar 2016
    2:30 pm
I agree completely. I love all types of berries, but I’d say that my favourites are the raspberries!

- - Nas01 said
  - 21 Mar 2016
    10:44 am
I love berries and luckily so do my kids.