The Benefits of Blackberries

Blackberries are most commonly found in the USA and are a natural source of antioxidants, essential nutrients, and anthocyanin. Blackberries also contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber; which means they can easily replace your nutritional food supplements. Nutritionists also say that if blackberries are made a regular part of your diet, they tend to improve your cognitive and motor skills, strengthen brain functioning and help prevent cancer and heart diseases.

 

 

Most widely, blackberries are consumed in breakfast with cereals, yogurt, fruit salad or porridge. However, they are not only taken as food but also used in a variety of skin care and beauty products to nourish and revitalize your skin and hair. The minerals and antioxidants present in them are especially utilized to make shampoos, soaps, lip balms, face lifting creams, and shower gels to give your skin and hair their long-lost glow and add life into them.

Blackberries Nutrition Facts

One cup of blackberries has the following nutritional value:

  • Energy – 43Kcal
  • Carbohydrates – 9.61g
  • Protein – 1.39g
  • Total Fat – 0.49 g
  • Cholesterol – 0 mg  
  • Dietary Fiber – 5.3 g
  • Folates – 25 µg
  • Niacin – 0.646 mg
  • Pantothenic acid – 0.276 mg
  • Pyridoxine – 0.030 mg
  • Thiamin – 0.020 IU
  • Vitamin A – 214 IU
  • Vitamin C – 21 mg
  • Vitamin E – 1.17 mg
  • Vitamin K – 19.8 µg
  • Sodium – 1 mg
  • Potassium – 162 mg
  • Calcium  – 3%
  • Copper – 8%
  • Iron – 0.62 mg
  • Magnesium – 20 mg
  • Manganese – 0.646 mg
  • Selenium – 0.4 µg
  • Zinc – 0.53 mg

Uses of Blackberry: Leaves, Roots, And Fruit

Blackberries have a lot of health benefits, but apart from the fruit itself being utilized, many other components can be consumed for additional advantages. For example, the leaves of the fruit contain triterpenes, saponins, vitamin C, traces of essential oils, organic acids, flavonoids, hydroquinone and a high density of tannins.

The fruit comprises of sugar compounds, pectin, niacin, anthocyanins, flavonoids, carotenoids, several B vitamins, and vitamin C. The roots and root bark are generally used for medicinal purposes while the fruit itself and its extract are used for culinary and skin products.

The acerbic (toning) effect of the leaves have been known for many years and the writers from ancient times have mentioned its herbal benefits in their literary writings.

The root barks and roots contain vast amounts of tannins with acerbic properties making them used as an internal herbal medication for digestive problems such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea.

Traditional uses include treatment of problems like slow healing, bleeding, fever, inflammation, gout, cystitis, flu, vaginal discharge, infertility, and cough.

Benefits of Blackberry for Health

Gum Care

The bark and the leaves of the blackberry plant are known for being used customarily. It is used for treating bleeding gums and mild inflammation.

Menstrual Bleeding

Utilizing blackberry leaves helps in relieving you from pain caused by excessive bleeding during menses. The fruit is used to control menses and measured a uterine tonic.

Dysentery

Blackberry fruit and leaves are used for treating diarrhea. To make use of it boil the fruit or leaves and strain them drink for relief.

Useful During Pregnancy

Blackberry is highly beneficial for women who are expecting. As a source of natural folate, blackberry adds to the best growth of the tissues and cells and helps in reducing the risk of congenital disabilities in babies.

Diabetes

Blackberries are rich with potassium content that helps decrease insulin. Regular consumption of blackberries with one spoon of honey helps control diabetes. For excellent results, it is best advised to have this for at least a week.

Weight Management

Assigning to little amounts of sugar, blackberry is a great way to keep healthy weight management. It has effective cleaning of the bowels owing to the fiber content in blackberry and very less amount of calories make it a great snack for weight loss attempts.

Boost Brain Health

Consuming berry fruits notably blackberry improves brain health and also prevents memory loss that is caused by aging. According to research blackberry is rich in antioxidants, and it helps fight free radicals and alter how brain neurons communicate.

Benefits of Blackberries For Skin

Our skin has a significant role in our overall appearance. Most of us don’t realize that our skin reflects what we eat. We understand, but we don’t implement it. Good daily consumption of essential nutrients is needed for perfect and glowing skin. Blackberries are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A. They also have higher levels of antioxidants as compared to – blueberries and strawberries. The dark color of the fruit is proof that it is rich in anti-oxidants.

Fights Free Radicals

Polyphenols and anthocyanosides are two main antioxidants that are found in profusion in blackberries. These assist in fighting free radicals. The collagen forming Vitamin A and C make it only more suitable for skin. These vitamins also act as anti-oxidants. The regular intake of blackberries protect your skin from the damage of UVB and UVA rays and helps skin in looking fresh.

Hydrates Skin

Blackberries comprise 85% water and an abundant amount of fiber. Both of these are highly beneficial for healthy looking skin. The intake of blackberries cleanses the body and upkeeps the resistance of the surface.

Revitalizes The Skin

Vitamin C, K and A in blackberries are good for skin rejuvenation. Their omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid rich seeds are essential for healthy skin. The regular use of blackberry skin products will help rejuvenate your skin; it will keep it hydrates, moisturized and smooth.

Possible Side Effects of Blackberry

Anything that is consumed in large amounts is not suitable for your body. A moderate amount of ripe blackberries are right for your health with zero side effects. But if you consume blackberries in large amount particularly immature berries, then it can cause you diarrhea or constipation.

Because of the high level of tannins found in the berry, it can also cause vomiting and nausea in some people.

Best Blackberry Skin Products

Summertime is all about fresh sweet fruits, and nothing can beat the taste of sweet tasting berries. Blackberries are full of some excellent health benefits which we have already discussed above. However, did you know besides of consuming them you can also utilize them in your daily skincare regime? This exotic fruit has minerals and benefits that are good for your skin and hair. It would be insane to keep this beautiful fruit out of your beauty regime. Blackberries are packed with antioxidants which are known for neutralizing free activists. Meaning that they are great are preventing any skin damage as well as they keep you safe from premature aging. Now, who wouldn’t love that?

Conclusion

Blackberries are not only a healthy fruit it also has a wide range of health benefits. More research is being done on additional benefits of blackberries, but many have been positively proven worth using. People can efficiently use blackberries in their diet as a fruit smoothie, snack or breakfast. Just remember not to overeat as the excessive use of anything is not good.