- Rich in Antioxidants – Antioxidants are essential for preventing chronic diseases and preventing accelerated cell aging. Berries, in particular, are rich in the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is found in the purple hues of these fruits.
What are antioxidants in general?
Antioxidants are substances that are both naturally produced in the body and obtained from food. They have a central and crucial purpose, which is to protect the body from an unwanted process: oxidative stress, during which various molecules in the body change negatively.
What are those molecules that cause the unwanted oxidative process?
They are called free radicals.
Free radicals are naturally generated in our bodies and also come from the food we consume, including fried food, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pollution, and many others.
When does the problem begin?
When there is an imbalance between the amount of free radicals and the amount of antioxidants.
If the ratio is in favor of free radicals, they will oxidize and attack various molecules in the body, leading to cell damage and, as a result, various diseases.
If the ratio is in favor of antioxidants, then the situation would not occur.
Antioxidants bind to free radicals, neutralize them in place of body cells, and also prevent harm to body cells. What the free radicals essentially want to do to body cells, antioxidants do.
The implication is immense – antioxidants can reduce and even prevent some of the above-mentioned damages.
We have to ensure that we consume enough antioxidants from our diet so that we can “treat” as many free radicals as possible, and thus prevent the development of many health problems.
It’s in our hands!
More Benefits of Berries:
- High nutritional value relative to low calories – rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, all with relatively low caloric content (an average of 60 calories per 100 grams). This makes berries an amazing snack, even during weight loss processes.
- Assist the digestive system’s activity: berries are rich in prebiotic components that can improve the function of the digestive system and prevent intestinal diseases.
