Berries Health Benefits

Delicious Berries Health Benefits

Berries are a nutritional powerhouse packed with fiber vitamins, minerals and antioxidants proven to reduce oxidative stress and reduce inflammation naturally. Berries in botany is a simple fleshy fruit that usually has many seeds within the fruit such as the orange, grapes, tomato and melons.  Berries are perceived as a simple fruit packed full of nutrition offering a wide array of vitamins, minerals and fiber being relatively low in calories. Edible berries have been a vital part of human diets since before the advent of agriculture serving as a primary food source for hunters, gathers and primates. Berries were gathered seasonally then stored for winter consumption using various preserving methods like drying berries.  Dried berries have a long history of use dating back to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and Middle East regions.  They were valued for their sweet taste, nutritional content and long shelf life.  Popular dried fruits include berries, plums, raisins, figs, apricots and apples.

Edible berries have a rich history by Native Americans, and European Immigrants who influenced the development of modern blueberry varieties, passing on their knowledge about cultivating edible fruits.  Blackberries were commonly used by Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest region for food and medicinal         

Purposes to treat digestive issues soothing swollen tissues and joints. Today the berry industry is a significant part of the global food and beverage market with major players like Driscoll’s leading the way in cultivation, processing and distribution of various berries including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.  The industry is driven by consumer demand for nutritious convenient food options using the berries for a wide variety of food and beverage options like favorite recipes low calorie Yogurt Cheesecake topped with frozen berries drizzled with blueberry sauce eaten as a simple dessert. The berry market is projected to continue growing with the focus on fresh berries, dried berries and frozen berries. 

In 2024 268 million pounds of berries were sold.  This figure includes organic berries including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and Raspberries. Berries led in organic sales reaching 1,857 billion in 2024 with an 11.8 percent increase from the previous year.  Edible berries are increasingly versatile in cooking, transforming delightful dishes into something spectacular like desserts, berry crumble pies, cobblers, berry yogurts, sugar free ice cream topped with berries sweetened with Stevia zero calorie sweetener. Berries are a rich source of bioactive compounds including phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonols and tannins, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Berries are packed with antioxidants that lower the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, and heart disease. Anthocyanins, flavonols both belonging to the flavonoid family offer numerous health benefits including antioxidant protection, and anti-inflammatory effects and potential protection against cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Berries are a superfood containing powerful antioxidants like anthocyanins, ellagic acid and reserve which helps protect cells from free radical damage reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Growing blueberries is highly rewarding for any gardener grown as a low maintenance plant once established it doesn't require excessive watering or fertilization.  They are beautiful plants throughout the season as blueberry bushes change color from bright green in the summer months to stunning red foliage in the season of fall. Highbush blueberry variety is commonly grown in home gardens typically yielding 5-10 pounds of edible fruit per year. The ambitious gardener who grows one bush of blueberries can grow anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds of fruit per growing season depending on factors such as the maturity of the plant, soil conditions and sunlight exposure.  Berries are a nutritional powerhouse.  They are a rich source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals making them excellent for overall health. 

Cheers! 

Patricia Lynn

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