Berries - 5 Health Benefits You Didn't Know About
Berries in general are among the most nutritious foods in the world. They are a convenient and tasty snack and when you are looking for something sweet and an easy addition to a healthy diet to increase the vitamin and mineral content. But with so many different varieties available to us, it can be difficult to determine which are truly among the healthiest berries.
Goji, acai and blueberries may come to mind, but what exactly makes berries healthy? We've already given you a clue! It has to do with their nutrients - the vitamins, minerals and plant compounds that nature gives us in these small, colorful packages that give us many different health benefits. If you are not familiar with the health benefits of berries, here are just a few!
The benefits of berries for blood sugar
It's not very often that a sweet food actually has benefits for blood sugar levels, but berries must be nature's gift to us sweet tooths! Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries (to name a few) are full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber which all play an important role in the body's control of blood sugar levels. Research has even shown that eating these berries regularly can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose clearance from the blood! Berries actually have a multifactorial benefit on blood sugar which acts as a double positive factor for our health. It doesn't get much better than that!
Benefits of berries for heart health
In many forms of alternative medicine, many types of berries have been used for thousands of years for their health benefits such as goji berries, acai berries and blueberries. There's a reason why they've been popular for so long - these berries have health benefits for the whole body, as well as the heart! Nutrients such as anthocyanins are the pigments that give berries their bright red, blue and purple hues and are one of the main contributing factors to why they are so heart-healthy, apart from their fiber, antioxidant, vitamin and mineral content. Anthocyanin intake through these different types of berries has been associated with reduced oxidative stress, blood pressure and inflammation, improved lipid profiles and stronger blood vessels. So when it comes to heart health, berries should definitely come to mind as a key ingredient to help mediate the risk factors involved in cardiovascular disease.
You may recognize the blueberry as a common ingredient in some of our products, such as our Calcium and Vitamin D3 + K2 with blueberries. Although these vitamins are well known for their effects on bone and immune health, the K2 and D3 vitamins are also beginning to gain popularity for their effects on the cardiovascular system, primarily due to their impact on blood vessel health. A combination supplement like this is a great option for anyone looking to support bone health, but just like with berries, the health benefits are more than meets the eye!
Benefits of berries for eye health
Speaking of eyes, we couldn't forget the power of berries for eye health! Remember those anthocyanins we just mentioned? They are also good for protecting against many different diseases of the eye. Although the common blueberry is often cited for its impact on eye health and macular degeneration, it's actually the blueberry that should get your attention! For diseases such as cataracts, dryness, eye fatigue and glaucoma, the blueberry has long been used to support retinal health. In addition to this, one of the best-known effects of the blueberry is its ability to improve night vision, although the research is still not complete on that point! It is believed that the anthocyanin and antioxidant power of these berries support collagen production and retinal structure while providing extra protection against UV rays for the eye's delicate vessels. Whether you prefer lingonberries or blueberries, they are both among the healthiest berries (or foods in general) for eye health.
Benefits of berries for immunity
Our immune system requires a nutritious diet to function optimally. When you look at the nutritional content, you would be pleasantly surprised to know that the health benefits of berries include immune system support, for many reasons! These colorful treats are often full of antioxidants that can be used to "disarm" harmful elements in the body that would otherwise be harmful to our cells. Many types of berries - blueberries, blackberries, lingonberries - also have impressive anti-inflammatory effects. When it comes to immunity, inflammation is a natural process and a protective mechanism, but when this inflammation becomes chronic, it becomes a burden on our immune system and can significantly affect human health as a whole, and we don't want that! As you will soon find out, berries are also good for our intestinal system, which also plays a big role in our immune system.
Benefits of berries for gut health
Many fibrous foods are good for gut health, but there are a few that stand above the rest when it comes to keeping our microbiome healthy. In this case, we're talking about the lingonberry! Not only does the lingonberry have antioxidant and anthocyanin power like many of our previously mentioned berries, but it also has the ability to change the microscopic ecosystem in our intestines! If you haven't heard of the gut microbiome before, it's a term used to describe our vast network of bacteria found in our digestive system. These bacteria contribute to many aspects of our health, including mental, cardiovascular and, of course, our digestive capacity.
We're still learning about the many effects of gut bacteria, but when it comes to lingonberry, we know some very promising things. First, lingonberry may have the potential to alter the balance of gut bacteria in favor of reducing low-grade, chronic inflammation. They also change the bacterial balance to support a healthy body composition.
You might be wondering how that can be possible? Well, there are many different types of bacteria that naturally occur in the gut. Some are better at extracting energy from undigested food particles, which favors weight gain. Some can inhibit the chemicals that break down food particles, such as fat, which promotes weight loss. Your gut bacteria as an individual will differ from your neighbor's due to differences in lifestyle, diet, genetics, medication use and many other factors, but when it comes to addressing health as a whole, we can use certain foods to our advantage when they have the ability to change the intestinal flora. Pretty amazing, right? As the medical community is still learning about the far-reaching effects our gut bacteria have on our overall health, it is more important than ever to consume foods that support our microscopic gut friends!
Does lingonberry ring a bell? You may have noticed our products Magnesium and Vitamin D3 both contain lingonberry, which contains a range of vitamins and minerals to support energy levels and performance. Lingonberry is a perfect fit in this formula, not only because of its gut health benefits, but also because of its potent antioxidant effects that make it a health-supporting superstar!
