Also known as Rubus fruticosus or bramble
This delicious fruit has been cultivated in Europe for thousands of years, not only as food. The Europeans also used blackberry juice to treat mouth and eye infections. The North American Natives incorporated this wild bramble into their diet and made tea from its leaves to help reduce vomiting and aid digestion.
In many parts of Europe and North America, blackberry bushes can be found growing wild abundantly, offering plenty of free fruit in the autumn season. Stopping to take the time for some old-fashioned berry picking is a healthy choice.
In the past, the main reason to eat blackberries was the vitamin C. Now it is known that they are also rich in polyphenols, including antioxidant anthocyanin pigments.
Blackberries may be one of the best anti-cancer and anti-aging foods this planet has to offer. They are in the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) top ten list because they protect against UV skin damage and reduce the ageing effect of sunburn by neutralising free radicals. Also, the seeds are high in ellagic acid which protects from cancer.
Beneficial nutrients in blackberries
- Anthocyanin
- Ellagic acid
- Fibre
- Pectin
- Polyphenols (anthocyanins)
Vitamins in blackberries
Minerals in blackberries
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