Berries are delicious and nutritious. And those colorful nuggets of tastiness are also among the healthiest foods we can add to our diet. Loaded with antioxidants, berries can help us feel full, lose weight and prevent disease.
What makes berries so special? It is their high levels of phytochemicals. A phytochemical is a naturally occurring, biologically active compound found in plants that protect them against bacteria, viruses, fungi and cell damage. When we consume plants rich in phytochemicals, we absorb those protective benefits.
Here are just a few of the health benefits you can get by adding more berries to your diet…
Berries Are Packed With Nutrients. Berries are high in vitamin C. One cup of strawberries offers 150% of the daily recommended intake. Berries are also a great source of Manganese, Vitamin K1 and Folate.
Berries Can Help You Lose Weight. Berries are a good source of fiber. Consuming fiber slows down the movement of food through the digestive system. This can lead to increased feelings of fullness and reduced appetite. All that fiber means that berries are low in net carbs so they are a low-carb friendly food. Additionally, the calorie count for a one cup serving of berries averages around 80 calories, making them one of the lowest calorie fruits.
Berries Can Help Lower Your Blood Pressure. The amazing antioxidant properties in berries aid in the fight against systemic inflammation that can contribute to high blood pressure. Also, consuming berries leads to improvements in blood vessel function which is another factor in keeping blood pressure down.
Berries Can Help Prevent Cancer. According to an article in the American Institute for Cancer Research, there is evidence that “berries not only contain strong antioxidants that help to prevent cell damage that precedes cancer; they also appear to affect genes that are associated with inflammation and the growth of cancer.”
Do yourself a favor and indulge in more tasty berries. If they are in season and you can get them freshly harvested, great! Yet, frozen berries offer the same nutritional benefits ….so be sure to incorporate berries into your diet year round.