The health benefits of blackberries
What are blackberries?
Blackberries are an edible fruit usually found in the UK from June to November, and can often be seen growing in woods and hedges. Each individual BlackBerry,when ripe, consists of 20-50 individual seeds known as pits, which are small, filled with juice and deep purplish-black. Technically, they are the "aggregate fruit", not the berry.
The beneficial properties of the BlackBerry
Blackberries contain a wide range of important nutrients, including potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as vitamins A, C, E and most of our b vitamins.they are also a rich source of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give blackberries their dark purple color.
About 10 blackberries count as one of your five per day. Take a look at our infographic to find out what counts as 5-a-day.
Can blackberries protect against heart disease?
In addition to being an excellent source of anthocyanins, one study did show that a specific extract found in BlackBerry juice has a protective effect against heart disease.
Read more about what you need to eat for a healthy heart here.
Can blackberries help prevent cancer?
Although there are no "Superfoods" that can prevent cancer, and some cancer risk factors are not related to diet, there is evidence that a healthy diet can reduce the risk of cancer. A study published by the Nutrition & Cancer Journal also found that some fresh BlackBerry extracts can help prevent tumor growth and the spread of cancer, although more research is needed.
Two pans filled with honey cream and stewed blackberries
Can blackberries boost your mental abilities?
An animal study conducted by the Nutritional Neuroscience Journal found that regularly including blackberries in the diet improves both motor and cognitive function, which may benefit people with more research.
A study conducted by the European journal of nutrition also found that eating wild blackberries can have a protective effect on the brain due to its rich content of polyphenols.
Blackberries contain the mineral manganese, which plays an important role in brain function, and its deficiency has been found to increase the risk of developing conditions such as epilepsy.
Discover 10 foods that can boost your mental strength.
Are blackberries antibacterial and antiviral drugs?
A 2013 study conducted by the journal Periodontal Research found that blackberries have antibacterial properties as well as anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects that may offer a potential natural therapy against dental infections. Blackberries also have antiviral properties – studies have shown that BlackBerry extract can help treat herpes when applied topically.
Can blackberries help with inflammatory diseases?
There have been several studies of the anti-inflammatory effects of blackberries that suggest that they may provide protection against inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, although more research is needed. One study in particular has documented that blackberries reduce inflammation in stomach diseases such as stomach ulcers by as much as 88%.
From a nutritional point of view, how best to cook blackberries?
Blackberries can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, and although there is no specific research on what is better, cooking appears to reduce the antioxidant status. You can also buy frozen blackberries when they are out of season.
Blackberries are an edible fruit usually found in the UK from June to November, and can often be seen growing in woods and hedges. Each individual BlackBerry,when ripe, consists of 20-50 individual seeds known as pits, which are small, filled with juice and deep purplish-black. Technically, they are the "aggregate fruit", not the berry.
The beneficial properties of the BlackBerry
Blackberries contain a wide range of important nutrients, including potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as vitamins A, C, E and most of our b vitamins.they are also a rich source of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give blackberries their dark purple color.
About 10 blackberries count as one of your five per day. Take a look at our infographic to find out what counts as 5-a-day.
Can blackberries protect against heart disease?
In addition to being an excellent source of anthocyanins, one study did show that a specific extract found in BlackBerry juice has a protective effect against heart disease.
Read more about what you need to eat for a healthy heart here.
Can blackberries help prevent cancer?
Although there are no "Superfoods" that can prevent cancer, and some cancer risk factors are not related to diet, there is evidence that a healthy diet can reduce the risk of cancer. A study published by the Nutrition & Cancer Journal also found that some fresh BlackBerry extracts can help prevent tumor growth and the spread of cancer, although more research is needed.
Two pans filled with honey cream and stewed blackberries
Can blackberries boost your mental abilities?
An animal study conducted by the Nutritional Neuroscience Journal found that regularly including blackberries in the diet improves both motor and cognitive function, which may benefit people with more research.
A study conducted by the European journal of nutrition also found that eating wild blackberries can have a protective effect on the brain due to its rich content of polyphenols.
Blackberries contain the mineral manganese, which plays an important role in brain function, and its deficiency has been found to increase the risk of developing conditions such as epilepsy.
Discover 10 foods that can boost your mental strength.
Are blackberries antibacterial and antiviral drugs?
A 2013 study conducted by the journal Periodontal Research found that blackberries have antibacterial properties as well as anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects that may offer a potential natural therapy against dental infections. Blackberries also have antiviral properties – studies have shown that BlackBerry extract can help treat herpes when applied topically.
Can blackberries help with inflammatory diseases?
There have been several studies of the anti-inflammatory effects of blackberries that suggest that they may provide protection against inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, although more research is needed. One study in particular has documented that blackberries reduce inflammation in stomach diseases such as stomach ulcers by as much as 88%.
From a nutritional point of view, how best to cook blackberries?
Blackberries can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, and although there is no specific research on what is better, cooking appears to reduce the antioxidant status. You can also buy frozen blackberries when they are out of season.