Berries Are Not Just Show Pieces

The predictability of ubiquitous raisins can be replaced by cranberries in cakes or muffins. It is well known that fresh strawberries are high in Vitamin C. Besides this there are various other berry types! Numerous types are edible, from blue-staining blueberries (that are blue-purple in colour) to raspberries, cranberries, mulberries and other juicy sweet berries.

Not all berries are sweet, some are harmful and fatal. Whenever anyone is in the wild and comes across wild berries, mushrooms and other unknown varieties it is worth not even trying them for taste. The knowledge of what is poisonous is helpful before taking a wild trial and trying out the foods we assume are safe. Generally mushrooms look appealing, they are a fungus and can be dangerous.

Small button mushrooms are most common in stores and safe. All mushrooms are mostly moisture, while Shitake mushrooms are known to be very health supporting. For a nutritious snake we can rely on berries, which also supply various levels of protective antioxidants. We wish to reduce our rate of ageing and ward away the development of disease and we have blueberries to indulge in to assist us to do that. Then therapeutically for urinary tract infections we have cranberries. Tendency to kidney stones is reduced by taking cranberry juice. It is known that medications for urinary and bladder problems can incorporate cranberries.

Various medical studies display the potency of cranberry juice to protect against some forms of kidney stones. Do not neglect the beneficial blueberries that have also been shown to effectively protect and treat urinary tract infections. These blueberries and cranberries prevent the harmful bacteria from latching onto the urinary walls. Consequently the harmful bacteria are unsupported to create a flourishing family to grow and cause ill health. In certain countries berries tend to grow and are more popular and available. Access to fresh berries at our nearby grocery stores is not general but rather to frozen and canned berries. Being fragile, berries are not suitable for mass transport and storage in fresh form.

The mulberry tree provides the mulberry fruit, the mulberries not only feed us but the leaves of that tree feed silk worms. Using berries to make juice is an age old practice and we can always find berry flavoured juices or concentrated berry juices.

It is known that bakery products of pies and tarts often include berry ingredients. Often we have the cherries on ice-cream or cakes. Another decorative piece that is nutritious and a colourful appeal! Usually preserved, red cherries are available in packages in grocery stores. Valuable iron levels are in loganberries, blackberries, black currents and raspberries. The gooseberries may be more common and have a yellow tinge. Vitamin E levels in useful levels are found in the blackberries!

Generally berries are high in fibre, minerals and vitamins relative to various other fruits. Berries may be minor juicy fragile ball-like fruits, yet they pack a punch for nutritional health.

Anastacia Sampson is a Nutritional Medicine Practitioner and freelance journalist, and lives in East London in South Africa. It is through consulting and advising the public on nutritional information that her health book has been published. Anastacia Sampson also runs a website, Healthy Living.