Strawberry and Blackberry Blast: The Carb-Friendly Fruits
March 24, 2017Strawberries and blackberries are a blast of flavor in your mouth and health in your body. Wanting to know exactly how they provide health? Keep reading! You're welcome berry much!
Organic berries are some of the healthiest fruits you can consume. They are loaded with antioxidants and are a great way to satisfy your sugar craving without putting anything processed or unnatural into your body. The American Diabetes Association says these berries are a superfood, packed with vitamins and fiber and have a low glycemic index, making them a smart choice for sugar-conscious people and diabetics (just make sure you keep track of the amount you are consuming as you would with all carbs to monitor blood sugar). While other whole fruits have sugar levels that you should be cautious of, berries are nutritional powerhouses meant to fuel your body in the most health-improving ways.
Two of my favorite berries to eat are strawberries and blackberries because their overall nutritional composition rivals most fruits. While raspberries and blueberries are also phenomenal for your health and should be incorporated into your diet, strawberries and blackberries are lower carb options that provide a slew of health benefits just as important as their sibling berries.
Blackberries
While blueberries are often lauded as one of the world’s healthiest foods, they better make room for blackberries because this power fruit is just as important! Blackberries are packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and ellagic acid, which are all proven to fight chronic disease and cancer as they working to slow down the growth of tumors. They are rich in fiber (which is good for digestion) and help lower cholesterol. This superfood can even help you lose weight because blackberries kick-start your metabolism and awaken your digestive system. While blueberries have many positive health benefits, blackberries are lower in carbohydrates and contain fewer calories per cup, making it a better choice for people who are extra cautious of those numbers. Blackberries also contain larger amounts of minerals than blueberries (such as potassium, magnesium, and zinc). Blackberries are thought to have some beauty benefits as well such as helping reverse the signs of aging, reducing wrinkles, aiding in the growth of healthy hair, and helping your skin maintain a clear complexion.
Strawberries
There are many surprising benefits to eating strawberries. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, strawberries are packed with antioxidants such as ellagic acid, flavonoids, and phytochemicals which fight chronic dry eye, vision defects, and degeneration of optical nerves. Strawberries are an immunity-booster that are rich in Vitamin C (just one serving contains about 150% of your daily requirement). They lower blood pressure and fight against heart disease and different types of cancer. According to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, strawberries are high in fisetin which is why they are considered “brain food,” aiding in the prevention of age-related memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s. A big reason why I choose strawberries over other fruits is that they are naturally low in sodium and sugar. While the sugar in strawberries is slightly higher than raspberries, they have fewer calories and carbohydrates. These delicious berries also have some beautifying benefits – they combat acne, help decrease puffiness in the eyes, and prevent collagen destruction!
While everyone associates fruit as being a healthy option to snack on, it’s important to know the different types of fruits that contain the highest amounts of sugars, carbs, and calories so that you can snack wisely and manage portions a bit smarter. The nutrients you get from fruit are undeniably highly beneficial for you and as the warmer months approach and we enjoy those fresh fruit bowls, learn about the breakdown of what you are putting into your body. Even those healthy options have sugary calories. The countdown to picnics in parks, days on the beach, and adventurous weekend road trips with freshly packed fruit is just weeks away!