Fruits & Vegetables: Their Value and Composition

"Blackberries are unusually rich in antioxidant polyphenols, tannins, and other protective substances. They ripen in summer, but frozen berries are always available. Try them in fruit salads, on cereal and pancakes, and in smoothies. Their small fat content is noteably polyunsaturated and of the omega-3 type. They contain about 5% protein and thus amino acids, but in unreported amounts (question marks). Relative to their few calories, blackberries contain adequate amounts of most nutrients shown." orthomolecular.org

Introduction

One of my sources for information is the brilliant website orthomolecular.org. They got some of their information from the USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture). I am not that fond of the USDA, even though they have good nutrition data, because they allow factory farms to abuse animals. One of my sources of information for this is a pamphlet by the Mass. Association for Animal Rights (MARC).

Blackberries

This food is very healthy, tastes good, and is economical. It has very little fat, so Ornish would approve and Pritikin, were he still alive, would approve. Atkins might not approve, but Atkins died grossly overweight. It wasn't his weight that killed him, but a nasty fall on ice.

It is better to eat the blackberries themselves than the jam because the jam has too many calories.

They are good in vitamin C and good in fiber but weak in vitamin B12. They are low in sodium, which is very good, and rich in potassium.

"Blackberries abound in antioxidants, such as anthocyanin pigments, responsible for the purplish-black color of blackberries and may impart health benefits because of their antioxidant properties. Additional antioxidants in blackberries are vitamins C and E, and ellagic acid; all may provide protection against cancer and chronic disease. Cooking does not seem to destroy ellagic acid, so even blackberry jams and desserts retain ellagic acid health benefits." http://www.orthomolecular.org/

"Because of their many tiny seeds, blackberries are a source of soluble fiber, such as pectin."

http://www.orthomolecular.org/