Wild Berries

Wild Berries. Find out why, besides being so tasty, they are a real cure-all for your body!

Berries! What a passion! A synonym of lightness and freshness, a source of the most delicate scents, the most intense colors and the most exquisite flavors, berries are part of a very restricted group of food, their use is more linked to the passion for their aroma and their refinement than to their nutritional contribution. If you love them, you will be surprised to learn that these delicacies are priceless treasures of phytochemical compounds. Berries not only are good, they are also healthy.

Raspberry 

It seems that raspberry, a term that derives from the German “brambasi”, and means “wild blackberry”, has long been a popular fruit; even the gods of the Olympus appreciated it very much. It is probable that the origin of this plant is between the mountainous regions of eastern Asia, rather than in Greece. Besides having undeniable qualities from the taste point of view, the raspberries have, since long time, an important role in the traditional medicine of many cultures, for instance, they are employed as antidote against the poisons in Russia and as remedy against the ageing by the Chinese. The raspberry contains large amounts of ellagic acid, and is therefore a very interesting therapeutic food.

Strawberry

The strawberry plant is very resistant and grows wild in every region of the world, both in the Americas, Europe and Asia and it is in fact likely that the origin of the consumption of wild strawberries is unquestionably linked to the origin of man himself.

Called “frega” by the Romans in homage to its exquisite perfume and its <fragranza>, in ancient times the strawberry was picked exclusively in the undergrowth. It seems that the cultivation of strawberries began in France around the middle of the XIV century, following the efforts of gardeners to transport the plants to the royal gardens. The use of strawberries, and the strawberry plant in general, for therapeutic purposes seems to be very ancient. The Indians east of the alder, prepared infusions of strawberry leaves, to treat stomach and gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea. For westerners, the red colour of the strawberry, its tender flesh, sugary taste and heart shape, have made it a synonym of temptation, love and sensuality. Strawberry has also long been used in beauty serums to fight wrinkles and tone the skin.

Blackberry

The Indians of America used them not only for food, but also for its medicinal properties. They produced an infusion from the roots of the plant, which they used as a relaxant during pregnancy, as well as a strawberry-based infusion to tone the body and reduce colic in newborns. It has long been thought that this fruit has the ability to treat circulatory disorders, as well as some eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts; still and today its properties are exploited in some medicines.

Cranberry

Despite their extremely acidulous colour and taste, cranberries are part of the <vaccinium> family and are therefore close relatives of cranberries. <The vaccinium macrocarpom, oxycoccus, American or cranberry>, the latter is the variety cultivated for commercial purposes in our days. In general, cranberries take up relatively little space in modern eating habits, apart from as an accompaniment to turkey on Thanksgiving, which is celebrated in the United States. Nowadays cranberries are consumed mainly as juice, which is a pity considering that commercial juices are very rich in sugars and contain very small quantities of molecules, phytochemicals that give this fruit its properties. One of the best known uses of cranberry in folk medicine is for the treatment of urinary infections. It is precisely by seeing the Indians of America use it in the treatment of bladder and kidney disorders that settlers discovered its therapeutic effects.

Berries are a privileged source of polyphenols with anti-tumor potential, ellagic acid, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. It is preferable to consume dried cranberries instead of juice, for example by adding them to cereals in the morning or to a mix of dried fruits. Cranberries and other berries can be consumed all year round using frozen products and combining them with yoghurt or ice cream or other sweets.

In conclusion, get stuffed with these magnificent fruits!