Berries: Benefits, Properties, and Uses

They are exquisite for their flavour and for the many combinations with which we can pair them. But first and foremost they are treasure chests of health, of well-being, of benefits for our body. Berries have only one limitation: those not grown in greenhouses, unfortunately, do not last long. They have a short season. First of all, berries are recommended in diets for their low calorieOne hundred grams of blackberries contain 26 calories; one hundred grams of raspberries have 34, while with ribes We go down to 21 and with the blueberry we go back up to 26 calories. Still not enough. Secondly, berries are rich in vitamins and mineral saltsAnd they can help, even in terms of prevention, any organ in our body.

Index of topics

Benefits

Body, heart, brain, legs, stomachI benefits of berries They are 360 degrees. They act everywhere and with great intensity. Do not use them, starting from the habit of enjoying them fresh during their season or using them for jams and tarts, it's really a huge waste. Of health. This extraordinary power of berries (blueberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants and more) is linked first of all to some molecules, the anthocyanins, pigments that color berries with those characteristic hues, from red to purple. It is precisely these anthocyanins that, in turn, give rise to a very particular protein, AMPK, which stimulates the longevity genes, the Sirt genes, capable of extending the life of cells and knocking out inflammatory molecules, responsible for many of our body's problems. This natural chain, further confirmation of how our health has everything to gain from a healthy, simple, and tasty diet, has over time transformed berries into little treasures, closely examined by nutrigenomics, the discipline that studies the relationships between food and DNA. Treasures, which we can call it without exaggeration, allow us to very easily extend your life.

Property

What important thing has come out, in fact, from a large amount of scientific research on the subject of quality of berriesIn short: the longevity genes, Sirt, so present in raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, currants, and blueberries, are able to suppress aging-related inflammation. And therefore, they represent a form of natural prevention for some truly terrible diseases, such as diabetes Alzheimer, arteriosclerosis. And cancer. Furthermore, anthocyanins can also protect the heart and the circulatory system in general (with very positive effects of relief for the legs), and clean the blood vessels from cholesterol “bad”, the one with the acronym LDL. Just as a diet that includes, with a minimum of consistency and for a certain period of time, blackberries and raspberries, can turn off theinflammation of the stomach and produces beneficial effects for the intestine, thanks to the quantity of fibers contained in berries.

Variety

A final, but not irrelevant, detail in terms of health of berries: they have little sugar and, as we said, a lot of fiber. And many vitamins (A and C). But let's take a closer look, for each type of berry, at some more specific characteristics and their relatives. benefits for our health.

Il blueberry It is the king of berries: we can find the black, red and blue varieties and it has the great peculiarity of being very rich in antioxidants that help the body prevent the aging of cells and tissues.
La wild strawberry It's very rich in vitamin C, sulfur, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. It's very low in calories, only 27 per 100 grams.
Il raspberry It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties on the respiratory tract. Rich in ellagic acid, it is a powerful antioxidant. Raspberry is a diuretic, purifying, and refreshing fruit. Raspberry leaves, too, are rich in tannins and can be used in anti-inflammatory infusions.
Il ribes It's a fruit that comes in white, red, and black colors, and both the berries and leaves are used. The former are highly prized for their diuretic and purifying properties, while the latter are used in herbal teas for their anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and diuretic benefits.
Le more They have diuretic, thirst-quenching and purifying effects, and their ability to keep the arteries clean is also very important in helping to combat cardiovascular diseases.

Cream of berries

If you picked berries during a trip to the countryside, here's how to best enjoy them with this recipe.

Ingredients for 4 people)

200 g fresh ricotta
200g of flaky cheese
200 g of berries
4 spoons of honey
100g of crumbled dry biscuits

Preparation

Take some fruit salad bowls or small transparent glasses and pour the crushed biscuits into them, covering the bottom by about 1 cm in height.
In a bowl jumbled up la ricotta cheese, spreadable cheese, honey and 100g of berries.
Pour the mixture into the cups and keep in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
Before serving, garnish with the remaining berries and sprinkle with icing sugar.

Do berries make you fat?

Berries don't make you gain weight, which is why they're often recommended in diets. In particular, red berries are low in calories, with a 300-gram serving containing about 90 calories. Berries are also high in fiber, which gives you a feeling of fullness and keeps you from craving more.

Controindicazioni

They have no particular contraindications, but in some cases, allergic reactions may occur. Therefore, it's best to avoid their consumption in children under 2 years of age and while breastfeeding.