Berries That Will Change Your Life And Health.
All through the Pacific Northwest coast, these little shiny
clusters of berries, known as blackberries, are immensely popular. For
some people, these berries are aggressive intruders of their fields
and they try to eliminate them by using weedicides. However, little do
they realize that these berries are actually extremely important to
their health, if they only knew how to unleash their nutritional
goodness.
Blackberries-What Are
They?
Blackberries are
Rubus fruticosis. They are a relation of marionberries and
olallieberries, which are also erroneously
known as blackberries. They
grow on short shrubs with densely green leaves.
They grow in
forms of clusters. They are also related to raspberries. In fact,
blackberries and raspberries are together known as caneberries. There
are over 375 different species of blackberries. Their common region of
growth is the Pacific Northwest Coast in the United States.
Blackberries-Traditional Roots
It is believed that the
blackberries are not native to the North American continent. The
belief runs that these berries were an import from the European
settlers, brought over from England to this continent.
The
blackberry at that time was mostly considered as a weed and an
inedible plant, mostly because of the black appearance of the berries
which is usually affected by pathogens in the environment, and because
of the presence of thorns in it (blackberries are related to roses).
However, a thornless hybrid of the blackberry was created in around
1920. This sturdier plant had enhanced nutritional benefits, and is
what people use now.
Blackberries-Health Benefits
*
Blackberries are especially rich in their antioxidant value,
phytoestrogen value, fiber content and vitamin K content. It is these
nutrients that give blackberries a specific taste and health
reputation.
* Due to their antioxidant value, blackberries can
give an immunity boost to the people who use them regularly. The
antioxidants retard destructive free radical mechanisms within the
body and improve overall health.
* The high level of
phytoestrogens present in blackberries make them a good candidate for
improving female health. This is the plant version of the female
hormone, estrogen. It helps women who suffer from severe side effects
of menstruation such as premenstrual syndrome. Blackberries give women
relief from such symptoms and also help in maintaining their proper
body functioning. Additionally, these are a good natural food for
women who complain about nausea and vomiting when they are pregnant.
* Due to the presence of a lot of fiber content in blackberries,
they are good for correcting digestive problems. They help people with
digestive difficulties. If you are suffering from constipation
regularly, then including blackberries in your diet can help you clean
out your bowels more effectively.
* Also, due to their benefit
in maintaining digestive health, blackberries aid in weight
management. They have very low sugar content in them, due to which
they do not add extra calories to the body.
* The vitamin K
constitution of blackberries made them exceptionally effective in
blood clotting.
* Also, vitamin K is necessary for maintaining
proper health of bones.
Blackberries-Where to Get Them
Blackberries are commonly available in stores. You can find them
easily if you are living in America. Canned blackberry products are
available across the world as well. You can order them online too.
However, the blackberries that you freshly pick from the plants
and eat immediately provide you with the best health benefits.