Blackberries – A Delicious Superfood!

We love blackberries at Private Home Care! They are packed with antioxidants (our favorite!) and have many other health benefits. Pretty cool for a little berry, huh?!

1. Packed with Vitamin C!

One cup of raw blackberries has half of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C! Vitamin C is integral to collagen formation in bones, connective tissue, and blood vessels. Vitamin C may also help heal wounds, regenerate the skin, battle free radicals (molecules released by toxins) in the body, absorb iron, shorten the common cold, and prevent scurvy.

2. High in Fiber

Blackberries are high in fiber, which helps to: reduce cholesterol,promote regular bowel movements, control blood sugar levels by slowing the rate of sugar absorption, lose weight by making you feel fuller longer, and provide fuel to nourish healthy gut bacteria.

3. Good Source of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is the reason why you don’t bleed profusely when you cut yourself: It helps your blood clot. Vitamin K also plays a role in bone metabolism. Vitamin K deficiency may lead to bone thinning and bone fractures. It may cause easy bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, and blood in the stool or in the urine. Just one cup of raw blackberries provides almost 29 micrograms, which is over one-third of the daily recommended value of vitamin K.

4. High in Magnese

Magnese is vital to healthy bone development and a healthy immune system. It also helps your body metabolize carbs, amino acids, and cholesterol. Like vitamin C, manganese plays a key role in the formation of collagen. And the enzyme that helps manganese form collagen, prolidase, also helps wounds heal properly.Manganese may help prevent osteoporosis, manage blood sugar levels, and reduce epileptic seizures.One cup of raw blackberries contains 0.9 milligrams of manganese, almost half the daily recommended value.

5. Good For Your Brain!

Blackberries may improve brain health and help prevent memory loss caused by aging, according to a review of research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The review concluded that antioxidants in berry fruits help fight free radicals and alter how brain neurons communicate. This may help reduce brain inflammation, which can lead to cognitive and motor issues common with aging.

6. May Help Support Oral Health

Blackberry extract has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory abilities against some types of bacteria that cause oral disease, which suggests blackberry extract may help prevent and control gum disease and cavities.

A one cup serving of this delicious fruit provides over half of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C, K, and magnese. Blackberries also help boost brain health and oral health. Sounds like a perfect snack!