February 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

“Berry” Delicious Antioxidants!

Summers in Sydney are not always sunny with bright skies and when that happens there is no better way than planning a berry fruitful day!

My husband and I were looking forward to go to the beach but the breezy and rainy weather redirected our plans. The cloudy skies were perfect for a lovely road trip towards the fields! So we headed towards the Montrose Berry Farm in Sutton Forest to treat ourselves with some organic berries!

Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the owners and advised that we have 30 minutes in the berry patch with an entry fee of $12.50 per person. Each person can then pick up to 0.5 kg of berries. An additional $2.50/100gms will be charged for the weight in excess of 0.5 kg.

We hurried into the patches as soon as we collected our containers and we started picking up our delicious black berries.

When choosing your black berries, make sure you pick the dark black colored ones and carefully grasp the individual berries. If the berry doesn’t easily release, it’s not ripe yet. If it falls apart in your fingers, it’s overripe. The softer it feels in your hand, the sweeter the taste. So if you prefer the sour taste make sure to pick the firmer dark colored ones.

Besides the fun experience at the berry farm, keep in mind that berries are one of nature’s best—and best-tasting—superfoods! And why is that? For one thing, berries are a great way to treat yourself with a delicious natural “sugar”! At the same time, berries allow you to treat your body with various nutritional benefits. To name a few:

According to the USDA, 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories so you’re getting more for less!

The Berry Health Benefits Network states that the dark blue color ensures that blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits, as they contain high concentrations of anthocyanins.

They contain high concentration of phytoestrogens (plant compounds that can mimic estrogen), which the Breast Cancer Fund claims that they have a protective effect against subsequent breast cancer risk when consumed during the adolescent period.

Additional antioxidants are vitamins C and E, and ellagic acid; all may provide protection against cancer and chronic disease. Ellagic acid does not seem to be affected while cooked at higher temperatures, so blackberry jams will still retain ellagic acid health benefits.

Its high tannin content helps to tighten tissue, alleviate hemorrhoids, and relieve intestinal inflammation and diarrhea.

The ancient Greek believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, so it is not a surprise that the German health authorities recommend blackberries for mild infections including sore throats and mouth irritations which is also linked to the high tannin content.

Blackberries contain salicylates, the substance found in aspirin (to be avoided by people allergic to salicylates).

They contain pectin (found in its tiny seeds) which aids in the reduction of cholesterol.

They contain resveratrol, the famous anti-ageing phytonutrient that has caused such a great buzz lately!

With all that goodness in a berry fruit, we will share some more recipes with you this month that may give you some ideas on how to incorporate berries into your diet in a variety of ways.

Maybe it was worth trying some of those delicious homemade jams from the farm’s gardens after all!