Don't Choke on it

Found all over the United States, including Idaho, these purple berries called chokecherries possess as much as 50 percent more antioxidants than more common berries according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
However, the raw berries are extremely tart (hence the name "chokeberry") so they're best when cooked and made into juice, jam or wine.
Chokecherries become ripe usually at the end of summer, around August and September. They are found on small shrub-like bushes that get to be about five feet tall. Because these berries aren’t preferred to eat just off the bush like strawberries or raspberries, sometimes they are considered pests.
However, chokecherries fight harmful free radicals, help the body maintain it’s pH range, and is rich in antioxidant and immune-enhancing ingredients.
Don’t pull these bushes out to make room for other berries. Smash them, juice them or jam them and get the healthy benefits from this helpful berry!

Colors are important too!

Did you know that even the pigment in the color of berries is healthy for you? The pigments that give berries their beautiful blue and red hues are also good for your health. The brighter and more colorful (and more delicious looking) the berries are, the more pigment they have and therefore the better they are for you. Berries contain phytochemicals and flavonoids that may help to prevent some diseases.
Cranberries and blueberries contain this phytochemical substance in their pigment that helps prevent bladder infections. One cup of blueberries offers a smaller amount of vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals for only 83 calories. The same amount of cranberries is similar, but with only 44 calories, 1 cup of raspberries offers vitamin C and potassium for 64 calories. Along with offering low calories, the phytochemical in their pigments fights common sicknesses and even helps with headaches.
Eating a diet rich in blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries may help to reduce your risk of several types of cancers. One cup of strawberries contains over 100 mg of vitamin C, almost as much as a whole cup of orange juice. We need vitamin C for immune system function and for strong connective tissue. Strawberries also add a bit of calcium, magnesium, folate and potassium and only 53 calories. Blueberries and raspberries also contain lutein, which is important for healthy vision.
If you have ever had the pleasure of picking berries right from a garden or gathering wild berries in the woods, you already know how wonderful fresh berries are. Now you also know how much just having pretty looking berries can help in your everyday diet!

Number One Super Food!

The acai berry is the newest health craze. An ounce in the morning and an ounce at night is proven to improve overall health, but this dosage can also cost about three bucks a day says a Fox News report.
The acai berry is a small grape-sized berry that grows in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil. Natives of the region have harvested this berry as part of their diet for hundreds of years. The much desired acai fruit is only 10% of the actual berry. The other 90% is made up of the seed or pit. The acai berry is harvested by the thousands and put through a process that separates the pulp from the seed to produce a thick, edible puree.
Although the acai berry is legendary in Brazil, only recently has its popularity spread to America. Doctors, scientists, nutritionists and countless media outlets rave about its many nutritional qualities and health benefits. This recent surge of interest in the acai berry has been aided by Bestselling author and anti-aging expert Dr. Nicholas Perricone who has touted the berry as the “Number one super food in the world” in his book “The Perricone Promise” and in appearances on TV shows such as Oprah.
Calling the acai berry “the number one super food in the world” might sound like a stretch, but this view is not unfounded. The little berry is packed with an amazing amount of free-radical fighting antioxidants and is considered to have the best overall nutritional value of any fruit on earth. And the acai berry isn’t called nature’s perfect food for nothing. Here are some of the health benefits that research has shown you can get from consuming the acai berry.

Jiu-jitsu fighters and soccer players in Brazil often have a large meal of acai berry pulp before a competition. Aside from being a perfect source of nutrition and carbohydrates, the high levels of antioxidants in the acai berry lead to a drastic increase in energy levels and stamina. Taken on a regular basis, the acai berry strengthens the immune system to the point where the body isn’t constantly fighting off infections and disease. This frees up even more energy for other uses.
The acai berry's natural combination of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, amino acids, phytosterols and amino acids work together to help your body function better, process food easier and burn fat more efficiently. It's one of the best things you can put into your body to keep it healthy. Subsequently, when your body is healthy and well-balanced, it will be much easier for you to reach your perfect weight.
British pilots in World War II reportedly ate large amounts of bilberry jam before dangerous missions as they swore it drastically improved their night vision. Billberry is also popular in Japan where it is used to relieve eye strain from excessive staring at computer monitors. Modern scientists have tracked these results down to a rare type of antioxidant in the bilberry called “anthocyanins”. Not surprisingly, these antioxidants are also found in the acai berry. On a somewhat related note, other antioxidants in the acai berry fight various eye related diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Finally, your ability to sleep can be frequently affected by stressed muscles. Acai contains amino acids that relax your muscles and allow for a more restful sleep. It also contains Vitamin B which helps to regulate the dopamine and serotonin (both neurotransmitters that impact sleep) production in the brain.
These among many others are some of the benefits of the acai berry. Also known as the “number one super food in the world.”

Next posting: Blueberries, cherries, strawberries and bilberries! Also, check out the berry festivals near you! Keep reading!

HELLO BERRIES!!!

Bright blue skies, soft green grass and warm sparkling sunshine are some of summer’s most anticipated gifts. Along with the outdoors looking wonderful, you have been working out all winter long and you’re now ready to show off your newly toned body and maybe add some color to the winter glow you have accumulated over the last four months.
….. And even if you haven’t been exactly “gung-ho” about your work out regime over the winter, being out and about is all included in the summertime appeal. Along with increased activity in the summer, there are also great fresh foods that we can get that aren’t available in the winter. Sure, the hot dogs and hamburgers, ice cream and otter pops sound especially appetizing, but keeping your hard-earned figure in mind, these foods aren’t going to keep you in the best swimming suit shape. Never fear! I have some breaking news on how healthy and delicious summertime foods can not only help you keep up with summer action, but can greatly increase your health!
Through this blog, I want to share the top 15 most healthy berries to eat and what some of the health benefits are for eating fresh berries. Berries are some of the healthiest foods you can eat. These naturally sweet, tasty treats are available in plenty and it is nearly impossible to have too many. Take these tasty morsels with you anywhere the summer action does. So go ahead and indulge in all that berries have to offer – a sweet, juicy taste reminiscent of long summer days, an easy addition to snack and means and best of all, incredible health benefits for you!
Most berries are naturally sweet and require little effort to prepare. Just rinse them under water and serve for a nutritious snack or dessert. One cup of strawberries contains over 100 mg of vitamin C, almost as much as a cup of orange juice. We need vitamin C for immune system function and for strong connective tissue. Strawberries also add a bit of calcium, magnesium, folate and potassium and only 53 calories. One cup of blueberries offers a smaller amount of vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals for only 83 calories. The same amount of cranberries is similar, but with only 44 calories, 1 cup of raspberries offers vitamin C and potassium for 64 calories.
The pigments that give berries their beautiful blue and red hues are also good for your health. Berries contain phytochemicals and flavonoids that may help to prevent some diseases. Cranberries and blueberries contain a substance that may prevent bladder infections. Eating a diet rich in blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries may help to reduce your risk of several types of cancers. Blueberries and raspberries also contain lutein, which is important for healthy vision.
Every grocery store carries a wide variety of fresh, canned and frozen berries. Look for ripe, colorful and firm berries with no sign of mold or mushy spots. Berries can also be found in the frozen section of the grocery store. Once they thaw, they will not be as firm as freshly picked berries, but they are still delicious and good for you. For the freshest berries, try farmers' markets that offer berries harvested that same day. Some berry farms allow you to pick your own berries.
Happy Berry-ing!!
Sneak Peek for next posting- The miracle of Acai Berries!