The Many Health Benefits of Blackberries
Blackberries are a delicious fruit, packed to the brim with loads of vitamins and nutrients that your body so badly needs. That is why it comes as no surprise at all that they contain a vast range of fantastic health benefits, including fighting free radicals, and helping to keep your skin young and healthy. Below, we've listed 8 of the most important health benefits that blackberries have to offer us:
1. They fight free radicals
Blackberries contain two powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols and anthocyanocides, which are great at helping your body get rid of nasty free radicals, which have been known to cause a whole host of health issues, including dementia and premature aging.
2. They help to prevent cancer
There are a number of different types of cancer that blackberries have been known to prevent, including esophageal cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer. This is because the micro-nutrients found inside blackberries have been found to prevent the proliferation of malignant cells, in addition to exerting a chemo-preventive effect.
3. They improve your vision
If you want to have strong and healthy eyes, then blackberries should be your go-to food! This is because they contain a component called lutein, which protects your eyes from harmful UV rays by forming a protective pigment behind the retina. What’s more, the vitamins and anthocyanosides found inside blackberries enhance your eyesight and prevent many vision-related issues, such as cataracts and macular degeneration, from forming.
4. They keep your bones strong
Blackberries contain plenty of useful minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which are essential for the maintenance of strong bones. Calcium makes the bones stronger, while magnesium is responsible for aiding the absorption of potassium and calcium into the body.
5. They keep your skin young and healthy
Packed with loads of skin-friendly nutrients, such as vitamins C and E, blackberries should form a core part of any skin-conscious person’s diet. Not only do blackberries prevent the formation of wrinkles and oxidative damage, but they are also responsible for the formation and strengthening of your skin’s collagen structure, too.
6. They boost cognition
Research suggests that blackberries are able to slow down age-related motor and cognitive decline, thanks to the polyphenolic components that they contain. That’s why regularly eating blackberries could help you improve behavioral and neuronal functions, as well as enhance your memory.
7. They aid your digestive system
Blackberries are a brilliant source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, which are both essential for your digestive system to function optimally. In this way, blackberries boost digestive health, prevent constipation, encourage better water absorption in the large intestine, and also add bulk to stool.
8. They help control diabetes
The high levels of potassium in blackberries go a long way when it comes to the reduction and regulation of insulin levels. That’s why most diabetics are advised to eat blackberries on a regular basis. What’s interesting is that blackberry leaves also contain anti-diabetic properties, so if you can stomach the bitter taste, we’d recommend eating them too.