Blackberries and stinging nettles properties
and health benefits
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Amounts per 100 grams
100 g of blackberries which is less that a cup full will
have:
- 186 mg of polyunsaturated fatty acids the omega 6
- 94 mg of the omega 3 fatty acids
- 214 iu of vitamin A
- 21 mg of vitamin C
- 1.2 mg of vitamin E,
- 19.8 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K,
- 25 mcg of folate (folic acid)
- 20 mg of magnesium
- 162 mg of potassium
- Traces of zinc and selenium
- 32 mg of calcium
- Plenty of the antioxidants compounds polyphenols, anthocyanins.
So pretty good for a fruit, which can be free if you know
the parks where they grow on. I love the season of blackberries as I am lucky
enough to go and get them near the park where I live. Otherwise they can be
quite expensive to buy but worth the cost as you have seen from the nutritional
value above. Being of a dark black colour as well means that they have
antioxidants properties as well as the blueberries (which are blue but with
even more antioxidant value than the blackberries).
Ellaigic acid which is an antioxidant found in many super fruits is a powerful
antioxidant and together with other
polyphenols and anthocyanins make blackberries and blueberries on top of the
list of the superfoods to have everyday in your diet. Antioxidants are very
important for the health and support of the blood vessels, keeping the vessels
clean and healthy, as well as reducing the effect of inflammations in any part
of the body. Blackberries and any berries are not for everybody and for some people
it can irritate the intestinal tract and therefore the benefit is not really
felt, but for rest of the people that do not suffer from intolerances to the
berries are a great food to include in your diet.
I included the stinging nettle in this issue just because
quite often if you go and pick up blackberries, there are plenty of stinging
nettles around the plants, so be prepared with long pants and long sleeve as
you might inevitably get stung by them. Stinging nettles also have amazing
properties for being anti-inflammatory, and many people use it for its
anti-inflammatory properties by boiling it and drinking the water and/or eat
the nettle leaves (make sure that you pick them up with gloves and somewhere
that no pesticides has been sprayed, as well as get more information on how to
use it). Also some tales of the past mention that if you have arthritis or pain somewhere,
and you put the fresh leaves on another part of the body it will take the pain
from the arthritis away. When, inevitable, I get stung picking the blackberries
I tell myself that is good for me and the pain will go, I do not scratch and I
just keep picking up the berries till I do not feel the sting anymore, but I do
feel the numbness of the part of the body that the nettle touched for a long
time after!!! Again it is worth the pain! I tell myself I am getting a
therapeutic treatment at the same time, even though I do not have any
arthritis, I am sure my body still benefit from it. So blackberries and
stinging nettle do go together for an all around therapeutic effect, inside and
outside!!!
Enjoy the berries and picking them up, do prepared for a bit
of sting and be safe, and enjoy the experience and the health benefit of it.
Please note: The above article is
not meant to substitute any medications that has been recommended by the
medical professional at any time.
