We have all come across them in desserts, cakes, jams and jellies. But have you ever stopped to think whether this delicious fruit was making you any healthier? Read on to find the answers.

Fact #1: Blackberries contain about 7 1/2 grams of fiber and only 62 calories per cup. They are a great source of pectin. Culinary uses aside, the latter has been known to be one of the best sources of dietary fiber. Pectin is a soluble fiber that binds to dietary fats blocking the absorption of up to 90 calories a day. Because it travels through the small intestine more or less intact, it helps our bodies get rid of certain elements that have proven to deteriorate our biological systems. Even though it does not contribute directly to our nutrition, it is a fact that it has positive effects in regards to controlling our blood cholesterol levels. Thus, it is a good idea to make it part of our regular dietary consumption. By the way, citrus peels are the ones that have the highest concentration of pectin at 30%. And apples, apricots, carrots and oranges compete shoulder to shoulder for that second spot.

Fact #2: Blackberries also contain large amounts of anthocyanins, a pigment that produces a somewhat stringent flavor and induces dark coloring in fruits. This pigment is also responsible for triggering neuronal growth in the brain’s hyppocampus which helps to improve our memory and focus. Some studies suggest that berries are able to accomplish such feat in as little as 8 weeks. According to Wikipedia, “Plants rich in anthocyanins are Vaccinium species, such as blueberry, cranberry and bilberry, Rubus berries including black raspberry, red raspberry and blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, eggplant peel, black rice, Concord grape and muscadine grape, red cabbage and violet petals.” We also know that the most salient feature of anthocyanins is that they can act as powerful antioxidants. Still, there is ongoing research to establish its effectiveness in scavenging of free-radicals in an environment beyond its own. This past June, the National Berry Crops Initiative Berry Health Benefits Symposium was held in Monterrey, CA to explore the positive impact in human health in relation to the consumption of berries. There is now laboratory evidence that among the many benefits that may result from anthocyanins consumption there is the prevention of:

- certain forms of cancer,
- prevention of aging and neurological diseases,
- prevention of inflammation,
- prevention of diabetes,
- prevention of bacterial infections.

Fact #3: But perhaps the most interesting fact about blackberries, or berries in general, is that their anthocyanins can be successfully used in the solar industry. What!? …you may be asking. In layman terms, they absorb light and can convert it into electrons. Due to their abundance in nature and projected 90% efficiency -plus their ability to bend or be printed- it’s not inconceivable that one day they may get to replace silicon cells. No doubt they are going to taste exponentially better!

So next time you are ready to prepare wheaties for the boys… don’t forget about those berries!

So let’s rewind a little and start again. Do you know why tomatoes have that deep red color? Lycopene is the answer. Lycopene is tomato plant’s pigment that produces the vegetable’s ultra deep and ultra rich red color. But what we really need to know is that this pigment is an aid in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene. Now, if you have been reading this blog you may remember I mentioned beta carotene when I wrote about Vitamin A, the miracle. The point of that article was to stress that vitamin A is a retinoid which -through one of its most usable forms called retinol A- finds its way into topical creams that help rejuvenate the skin. So now we can put it altogether and say that given Lycopene’s association to beta carotene one of it’s most important functions is its antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant activity is a critical area that has a strong correlation to our overall health. Although the FDA has declared there is not enough evidence to conclusively state that eating tomatoes may prevent certain forms of cancer, there is some anecdotal evidence that tomatoes indeed may provide many health benefits. Officially, however, the FDA (2005) has authorized dealers to only state a very narrow claim in regards to possible health benefits (very limited and preliminary scientific research suggests that eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and/or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. FDA concludes that there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim.)

In spite of this, the general consensus is that tomatoes -specially cooked and crushed ones served in oil-rich foods such as pastas, which greatly increases assimilation from the digestive tract into the bloodstream as Lycopene is fat-soluble-, confer tissue-protecting ability via Lycopene (antioxidant) which is easily absorbed into our skin cells. This is the opinion of Debra Jaliman who has specialized in anti-aging treatments and currently heads a New York City dermatology practice and is also an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She also believes that the health benefits associated with Lycopene ingestion may last for months. “It improves skin texture and its overall health” she stated in a recent interview.

To conclude I would like to quote some information found at wikipedia that highlights the importance of Lycopene when it comes to its antioxidant properties: “Lycopene may be the most powerful carotenoid quencher of singlet oxygen, being 100 times more efficient in test tube studies of singlet-oxygen quenching action than vitamin E, which in turn has 125 times the quenching action of glutathione. Singlet oxygen produced during exposure to ultraviolet light is a primary cause of skin aging.”

And now the final bonus: tomatoes are not alone! There are other fruits and vegetables that are high in lycopene as well. A short list:

Gac
Watermelon
Pink grapefruit
Pink guava
Papaya
Red bell pepper
Seabuckthorn
Wolfberry
Rosehip.

There are many varieties out there among some of the craziest ones there is opal and cinnamon. Asian varieties add even a more exotic angle. Note that this herb has been produced for over 5000 years and was cultivated in its earlier years in places such as Iran and India. An older fella’ with a bit of history! Both its mint flavor and strong smell derived from its essential oils.

So now that I have laid out this brief introduction on this wonder herb, I should focus more on its health benefits. After all, this is what this blog is about… Let me quickly paraphrase one old friend, wikipedia: “…Basil and oregano contain large amounts of (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which might have a use in treating inflammatory bowel diseases and arthritis. BCP is the only product identified in nature that activates CB2 selectively; it interacts with one of two cannabinoid receptors (CB2), blocking chemical signals that lead to inflammation, without triggering cannabis’s mood-altering effects.” In case you missed it, what is really important and the key word from this line is: BCP is the only product in nature that can activate CB2 to block chemicals that lead to swelling, thus preventing it. In order words, basil -which contains large amounts of it, can provide quick pain relief to muscles and the like. You do not need to be a doctor to understand that a good amount of chopped basil sprinkled in the area where the muscle hurts can alleviate you just like if you were taking some aspirin, all the while instilling a fresh aroma into the environment.

More technically speaking, it is a component of the herb’s natural oil -eugenol- that causes the inhibition of a key enzyme from synthesizing the inflamatory prostaglandins which make the nerves sensitive.

The Kasturba Medical College in India has performed some studies to prove the antioxidant properties of basil and as part of their conclusions it is believed that wrinkles can soften to a degree in as little as 10 days, when making the herb part of one’s daily diet. In this case, the benefits lie on a different factor: the high concentration of flavanoids like “orientin and vicenin” which are engines of collagen production that contribute to a higher cell turnover, helping in turn rejuvenate your skin.

The below links lead to some of the studies performed by Kasturba:
1. Antioxidant properties of basil.
2. Enhancement of bone marrow radioprotection.
3. Protection against radiation injury.

Last but not least, basil can also aid in combating excess weight. Belly fat storage is dependent on the production of calcitriol by our bodies and basil helps suppress it. Together with its provision of manganese that helps regulate the levels of glucose in our bodies, basil works as a potent aid for burning fat faster than normal.

Just don’t over plant it everywhere in your house/apartment!