It’s a crisp summer morning and you’re strolling in the garden of your home. You come across hundreds of blackberry bushes laden with ripe, juicy fruits. Instantly, the tantalizing smell drifts around you and takes over your senses! It may be hard to resist such deliciousness – but did you know that those little berries offer far more than just delightful flavor? In fact, including them in your diet can bring about multiple health benefits for you! Keep reading to explore why this everyday fruit is superfood material.
Blackberries are summertime gems.
Growing wild all across the farm, these berries provide a rich food source to many animals. Birds and insects flock to the plants, and mice will climb great distances for a snack. And, I’ve even seen small snakes wrap themselves in the branches to wait for prey! These fruits are as good for you as they are for the critters. Blackberry benefits include skin and body nourishing capabilities, thanks in part to their high levels of antioxidants.
Blackberries are especially easy to grow, making them a perfect addition to your home gardens.
They can spread like wildfire, however, so keep them contained in a small raised bed. You can find summer blackberries growing wild all up and down the east coast. They’re found near tree lines and around old buildings, and like areas that don’t get too hot or dry, so if you plant some yourself keep this in mind. The bushes are often covered with little thorns, especially if they’re a wild variety. In the garden, you can plant thornless cultivars so you don’t jab yourself.
Blackberry benefits for health
These tiny, black seeded fruits are high in fiber, thereby promoting lower cholesterol. Blackberries in your diet control blood sugar levels by slowing the rate of sugar absorption, so they are an excellent fruit for your daily diet. Just one cup of blackberries provides your body with half of the daily recommended vitamin C! One cup of blackberries provides one-third of your daily vitamin K. Blackberries also provide manganese, which is beneficial for bone growth.
- Just like honey, blackberries help to regenerate the skin.
- Blackberries contain polyphenols, a class of antioxidants known for their cancer-fighting abilities.
- Antioxidants in berry fruits also help fight free radicals and alter how brain neurons communicate
Blackberry benefits for the skin
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, such as phytochemicals, bioflavonoids, and vitamin C, blackberries stop free radicals which can damage skin cells. We use extracts from these berries in a few of our products to calm, freshen, brighten and soothe skin.
Blackberries play a huge role in our Detox Mask. Highly nourishing and refining on the skin, blackberries provide a rich source of vitamin C and anthocyanins that help to renew your skin cells. Vitamin C, over time, gives your skin a healthy glow and reduces the appearance of fine lines while boosting protection from the elements.
Recipes with Blackberries
Our Black and Blue Jam features a summery blend of blue and blackberries that will brighten any morning. If you can’t get fresh berries from your garden or market, always buy organic. Non-organic berries are often covered in hard-to-remove pesticides, which you don’t want to eat!
Our Bumbleberry Pie is a crafty combination of all of our favorite berries. And, to make it better, we made this pie with a sugar cookie crust! This definitely isn’t in the health food section of our books, but it is made with whole ingredients. And, corn syrup or artificial flavors! It’s always ok to treat yourself, and it’s even better to do when you make the treat yourself.
How could we make these classic blackberry pancakes better? By adding berries and honey, and by making them gluten-free. We even used our Homemade Almond Milk in the batter so they’re better for you than the typical mix.
These healthy Homemade Berry Popsicles are a favorite of ours. We use coconut milk and coconut water to make these popsicles vegan, but feel free to use any “milk” you like. You’ll notice that there is plenty of room for interpretation and having a good time in the kitchen calls for experimentation.
