You probably already knew that berries are among the healthiest foods on the planet, and can contribute to everything from a healthy immune system to better eyesight and metabolic regulation. But did you know that scientists have recently discovered a range of new health benefits of berry consumption?
At the 2017 Berry Health Benefits Symposium, experts presented their findings. The new research demonstrates that a variety of chemical compounds in berries—including polyphenols, metabolites, and flavonoids—show promise in decreasing the effects of or in treating:
- Arthritis, especially the reduction of pain and inflammation
- Allergic asthma airway inflammation
- Oxidative stress, inflammation, and other neural alterations cause by a high-fat diet, which can contribute to brain impairments in learning and memory
- Parkinson’s disease
- Age-related declines in psychomotor function, including balance, muscle strength, and coordination
- High blood pressure and arterial stiffness, especially in postmenopausal women
- Ovarian cancer
- Metabolic syndrome, especially its effects on the immune system and weight gain
- Hyperglycemia
Simply eating a handful of berries won’t cure disease. However, as these and other studies have shown, concentrated doses of the health-giving compounds of berries can have a significant effect on many diseases. This means, researchers believe, that incorporating additional and larger servings of berries into a healthy, balanced daily diet can help prevent certain diseases from developing in the first place, or from getting worse.
Visit our recipes (both savory and sweet) for ideas on how you can make berries a regular—and tasty!—part of your overall nutrition plan, and reap the health benefits.