Bountiful Berries Health Article

Out of season, the best place to find tasty berries may be the freezer section of your store. Individually quick-frozen berries are processed shortly after harvesting and often contain more nutrients than their "fresh" counterparts that have traveled for many miles before reaching the market. To cook with frozen berries, measure while frozen and partially thaw before using.

To freeze your own berries wash them and pat dry. Spread in a single layer on a tray, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid. Pack frozen fruit into ziplock bags taking care to remove air from the bags. Freeze up to 1 year.

Berry Nutrition

According to cancer specialist Gary D. Stoner at Ohio State University, high levels of anthocyanins—antioxidants that give berries their characteristic red, blue and black colors—have been linked to stalling the aging process, protecting the heart and circulatory system, and preventing mental decline. The darker the berry, the higher the concentration of antioxidants.

Stoner notes that to reap the most value from berries you should eat them whole, either fresh or frozen, because concentrated in the seeds are a number of polyphenols, such as ellagic acid, which have cancer-preventive effects. Other berry components include salicylic acid (used to make aspirin), which can help prevent heart attacks and inflammation of blood vessels. "I recommend one helping [four to six ounces] of berries every day," Stoner says, admitting, "I prefer to eat them with a bit of milk and sugar."

Resources

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