| It is time to get out to your farmers markets as | | | | in the season, which makes them one of the first |
| summer is now upon us! That means nature will | | | | out of the gate to the grocery store. Eat them by |
| provide us once again with a cornucopia of different | | | | the bunches! |
| berries. All these deep and rich coloured berries are | | | | Crantini's, I mean Cranberries: |
| little powerhouses of nutrition. They are packed full | | | | Ok we know that harvest time for cranberries is |
| of anti-oxidants that help us eliminate those nasty | | | | more like fall than summer, but we just couldn't keep |
| free radicals that build up in our body. Berries have | | | | these mega hulks of nutrition off our list. This tart |
| been shown to help us prevent everything from | | | | little red gem has many amazing health benefits. It |
| bladder infections to certain forms of cancers. In the | | | | has many antibacterial benefits especially when we |
| spirit of summer we want to provide you with a | | | | are speaking about our urinary system. Cranberries |
| healthy guideline to the best berries out there. | | | | work their magic along the lining of the urinary tract. |
| The Champ: | | | | For a urinary tract infection (UTI) to occur E-coli and |
| Without a doubt blueberries are the heavyweight | | | | other bacteria needs to adhere itself to the mucosal |
| champ of the berries. These dark purple and blue | | | | walls. Compounds in cranberries act like a special wax |
| gems are full of anti-oxidants called anthocyanins. | | | | along the urinary tract that makes it difficult for |
| These amazing anti-oxidants have shown to provide | | | | bacteria to latch on. In addition to reducing UTI's, |
| protection and reduce oxidative stress on our cardio | | | | cranberries are also well known for reducing kidney |
| vascular system. The flavonoids in blueberries have | | | | stones, bladder infections, herpes virus and also act |
| shown also to be beneficial for reducing macular | | | | as a natural probiotic for our gastro intestinal system. |
| degeneration and assist with improving our night | | | | Serve them with turkey, put dried ones on salads, or |
| vision. Finally blueberries are very important for our | | | | drink the juice, regardless of how you take it these |
| brain functioning at peak condition. Researchers found | | | | berries are nature's nectar. |
| that diets rich in blueberries improve both the learning | | | | No it's not a Black Raspberry! |
| capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making | | | | Blackberries are these deep, dark little gems that are |
| them mentally equivalent to much younger ones. We | | | | packed with nutrition. Blackberries provide many |
| recommend purchasing wild organic berries or better | | | | health benefits which can be associated with their |
| yet see if you can find some wild ones growing in | | | | high polyphenol and anthocyanin composition. |
| your area! | | | | Blackberries like other berries are rich in egallitannins |
| Strawberry Social: | | | | that assist in protecting us from ultraviolet damage |
| You probably won't find a more versatile summer | | | | from the sun. In addition blackberries are also high in |
| fruit than the strawberry. This heart shaped beauty | | | | phytoestrogens that can assist with the symptoms |
| is perfect for salads, great on top of ice cream and | | | | of PMS and menopause. Finally blackberries are rich in |
| perfect for topping cereal and yogurt. Strawberries | | | | vitamin K, in fact one cup of these berries provide us |
| are full of phenols which are a type of anti-oxidant | | | | with about 40 percent of our daily recommendation. |
| that provides the body the ability to reduce damage | | | | Vitamin K is crucial for our body to clot our blood in |
| that has occurred. Strawberries contain a special | | | | an effective manner. We like blending blackberries |
| phenol called egallitannins which is responsible for | | | | with other berries create an amazing bounty of |
| most of the health benefits of strawberries. The | | | | colour! |
| ellagitannin content of strawberries has actually been | | | | Now is the time to get out there and buy these |
| associated with decreased rates of cancer death. In | | | | berries by the bushel load. The great part is that |
| one study, strawberries topped a list of foods that | | | | while the price is good, you can purchase a big batch, |
| are linked to lower rates of cancer deaths among a | | | | wash them and freeze them while they are in their |
| large group of elderly people. In addition strawberries | | | | peak season. There is nothing better in the fall being |
| also have been shown to assist with reducing some | | | | able to pull out frozen berries for pancakes, muffins |
| of the effects of arthritis. Researchers believe that | | | | or just too top cereal. Remember always try to |
| the vitamin C in strawberries helps assist with | | | | purchase organic varieties to reduce ingesting |
| reducing inflammation throughout the body. | | | | chemicals....have a BERRY good summer. |
| Strawberries are best when you can get them early | | | | |