Do You Have The Berry Advantage?

By December 29, 2011 November 27th, 2015 Nutrition, Whey Protein

You’ve heard that berries are good for you, but do you know just how good? These juicy gems are so packed with health benefits, it’s amazing to believe they could also be so delicious. And yet, most Americans under consume them, which may be due to cost, availability, and/or a clear understanding of their importance.

For the sake of discussion, we’ll address berries collectively, including blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, black currants, elderberries, bilberries, and more, since they share so many health attributes, including:

Cancer prevention

Compared to other fruit sources, berries offer the highest content of antioxidants and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Berries are rich in anthocyanins─compounds that provide their pigmentation and serve as natural antioxidants. Anthocyanins help protect against multiple forms of cancer by repairing and supporting DNA integrity, as well as helping to reduce age-related oxidative stress.1,2

Protection against cognitive decline

Berries have been shown to help prevent and even reverse age-related cognitive decline, due to the polyphenols and flavonoids they contain─which actually accumulate in the brain when they’re consumed regularly. Antioxidant-rich berries positively impact both learning and memory, as their polyphenols help aging neurons continue to function properly over time.3

Minimizing chronic inflammation

Among other attributes, berries help decrease chronic inflammation in your body, which is a hugely valuable, considering that this unhealthy condition is linked to a range of serious problems, including heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis. By reducing your inflammatory markers, berries thereby reduce your risk of these disease states.4

Boosting heart health

Along with combating age-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and numerous degenerative diseases, berries rich in natural anthocyanin antioxidants also benefit cardiovascular disorders, both by boosting HDL (good) cholesterol and by reducing blood pressure.5

Supporting healthy weight loss

How can berries help you reach and maintain a healthy weight? For one thing, they’re a skinny treat, generally averaging less than 100 calories per cup. They’re also filing, due to the fiber and water content they contain. And their naturally satisfying tart-sweetness can help curb a sweet tooth. Berries are also a low glycemic food, with most types coming in under 50 on the glycemic index.

Now that you know all this, are you up for a daily intake of 1-3 cups of fresh, organic berries daily? If so, bravo! However, to ensure these phenomenal health benefits, it may be more realistic for many of us to incorporate a highly effective short-cut into the daily menu─ideally in our morning protein shake. EnergyFirst Organic Berry Powder contains twelve, 100% natural, super-food berries to provide a comprehensive blend of potent, life-extending antioxidants.

Such a wide variety of berries offers a powerful advantage, since berries work synergistically, becoming far more effective when taken as a full spectrum than when consumed individually. This certified organic formula was created to help ensure the greatest level of health protecting properties possible. So, get the berry edge, and thrive!

References
1 Pharm Res. 2010 Jun;27(6):1138-45. Epub 2010 Mar 16,
2 Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004 Jan;69(1):75-80, 1 p preceding 75.
3 J Nutr. 2009 Jan;139(1):192-3. Epub 2008 Dec 4.
4 Br J Nutr. 2011 Sep;106(6):913-22. Epub 2011 May 16.
5 Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jun;51(6):675-83.