National Berry Month
Posted by Janice Cox, registered dietitian at Byerly's Ridgedale
Friday, July 13, 2012
July is National Berry Month! We are at the peak of the season for Driscoll’s strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. What better way to kick up the nutrition in your diet than with peak of the season, nutrition-packed berries?
In addition to being delicious, berries are rich in antioxidants that help protect our cells against free radicals (molecules that are produced by normal body functions). Free radicals can damage our cells and cause health problems related to oxidative damage, such as heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease. Antioxidants can slow or even stop these kinds of damages.
Berry facts:
- 1 cup of strawberries offers you 140% of the reference daily intake (RDI) for Vitamin C
- Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and can help with nighttime vision
- 1 cup of blackberries has 8 grams of fiber
- Blackberries have been shown to have beneficial health effects in the fight against cancers of the GI tract, like colon cancer
- Raspberries are rich in flavonoids, which have been shown to play a role in a person’s heart health and in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and age-related decline
- Raspberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and manganese, and in a healthy diet, have the potential to lower your risk of heart disease
- Driscoll’s raspberries are certified by the American Heart Association with their Heart-Check mark as a heart healthy food
If you are looking for some fantastic berry recipes with how-to videos, check out Driscoll’s website for delicious ideas, like Raspberry and Blueberry Kale Salad - sure to be a summertime favorite.
Enjoy the bounty of the season and try some new ways to include berries in your day!