Blackberries – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 by Tim Wesley

These sweet and succulent berries are more than tasty additions to your diet. This versatile fruit belongs to the Rubus genus in the Rosaceae family; They’re distant relatives of raspberries and dewberries. Characterized by a biennial erect or partially erect stem, it has sharp spikes and dark green leaves clustered with pinkish-white blossoms. Blackberries have smooth yet fragile skin. It has a green core that can grow as far as it base. You’ll know these are ready for consumption when they have a black, glossy appearance.

List of known nutrients

Blackberries are packed with nutrients like:

Anthocyanidin
Calcium
Ellagic acid
Folate
Iron
Manganese
Pectin
Phosphorus
Potassium
Proanthocyanidin
Quercetin
Vitamin A
Vitamin B3
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Medicinal uses for blackberries

These aren’t just tasty; they are useful for their medicinal values which goes back more than 2,000 years. Blackberries can improve oral health. One study from the Oregon State University showed that blackberries contain gallic acid, rutin, and ellagic acid that contains anti-carcinogenic and anti-bacterial properties that treat periodontal infections. Its abundance of antioxidants makes blackberries good for preventing certain types of cancers like lung, esophageal, and colon cancers. The list doesn’t end there. Blackberries are found to be effective in helping treat conditions like stomach ulcers, gout, common cold, dysentery, hemorrhoids, sore throat, and diarrhea.

Making blackberries a regular part of your diet will do your body a lot of good. The flavonoids will ensure you have a healthy heart and while the fiber content will help keep your waistline in check. You can also reduce the risk of fractures and blood clotting disorders. A 2009 study showed that eating blackberries may help improve your cognitive skills and motor functions.

Body systems supported by blackberries

An article on HealthEating.SFGate.com concludes that blackberries can help support the following systems:

Anus
Digestive system
Sore throat

Ways to use blackberries

There are various ways to enjoy these tiny health boosters. You can make cobblers or jams; bake a blackberry pie or pastry tarts. You can be creative and whip up a blackberry sauce for your pork chops or toss it on salads. Try it as a milkshake or smoothie. The possibilities are endless.