My love of food isn’t just about the look and the taste, I’m also a huge fan of the nutrient content held within fresh food. I believe we can either ‘feed’ our bodies or we can challenge them.
Berries which are now in season, are small vitamin powerhouses, or body-synergy foods as I like to call them. These fruits are not only packed with colour which looks great on camera, but they are also packed with a vast array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which have the potential to protect us from disease and also promote health.
Not surprisingly the appearance of a food, can be indicative of the nutrition held within. For instance the deep blue color of blueberries is related to the high amounts of phytonutrients, or anthocyanidins in the fruit. These phytonutrients assist in neutralizing free radical damage in our cells. In short, they can help us to fight off disease and slow the aging process by protecting the cells. As with the blueberries, the colour of blackberries is also indicative of a store of anthocyanin, the health promoting flavinoid. They are also high in disease fighting compounds, such as vitamins C, E, and ellagic acid another antioxidant.
The classic summer favourite strawberrries, (did you know there are 600 varieties) are high in antioxidant phytonutrients known as phenols. Phenols are compounds responsible for protecting us from disease and also for promoting good health. They can help protect the brain, reduce macular degeneration of the eyes, and are an excellent source of potassium and fibre. If that isn’t enough they also contain B vitamins, vitamin C and K, manganese, iodine, folate, magnesium, copper and omega-3 fatty acids!
Berries really are beautiful to look at and wonderful to eat!