Blackberries' Antioxidant Super Hero

Blackberries have been around since forever. It was only recently that people have noticed its surprising nutritional value. Blackberries are a mid-southern and northern grown fruit that happen to be part of the rose family. It is in the Rubus family, which contains over 740 different perennial and vine species. Rubus also includes fruit like strawberries, apples, pears, and peaches. Its hard to see the similarities in the fruits, but it is.

Blackberry fruit was used in the colonial periods as barter items between Native Americans and Europeans. Today blackberry nutrition has placed it in the top of the ORAC charts (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) for its antioxidants. The antioxidants are substances that help slow down oxidation of other molecules. The blackberry fruit is one that contains these helpful by-product waste disposal agents. Blackberries contain a substance called polyphenols which are a type of antioxidant. The phenolic acids are anti-carcinogenic agents. These polyphenols include anthocyanins, ellagis acid, gallic acid, and cinnamic acid.

Blackberries' nutrition does not end at antioxidants, but is also rich in vitamin A and C. Vitamin A is fat-soluble essential for normal vision. It helps prevent night blindness or inflammation or dry eyes. Vitamin C is another fat-soluble essential for your immune system. Vitamin C can help protect against cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling. Many of us remember that sailors had suffering the past from scurvy. This was treated with fruits high in citrus. It was a must in their treatment. Blackberries are one of those fruits that can be used.

The blackberry fruit have been unnoticed in its health benefits until only recently. Antioxidants, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C are only some of the nutrients mentioned about the fruit. Blackberries aren't the only polyphenol substances around, but might be the one fruit suited for your particular taste. -----------------------
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