AN APPLE A DAY - DO YOU KNOW THE BEST FRUIT ON EARTH?

DAY 112 OF 365 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

LOVING THE BEST FRUIT ON THE EARTH

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

So now that we know a lot more about the top three vegetables to eat for nutrition (watercress, bok choy and chard) and even another good vegetable on the side (broccoli).  I thought it might be beneficial to leave our vegetables for a bit and look into some fruits.   After all, the Mediterranean diet we have discussed using for good nutritious health is mostly made up of fruits and vegetables.  

I’ll give you three guesses as to the most nutritious fruit on earth…..

No, no, no…….it probably isn’t what you might think! 

The most nutritious fruit on the earth is the tiny little blackberry that I used to pick with my grandmother every time she wanted to make a pie.  Yes, the number one nutritious fruit on earth is the blackberry!  I’ll bet you are as surprised as I was to find this out.  

I was also surprised to find out that in a group of over 30 fruits rated nutritiously good for you; most of 

the fruits I eat almost every day were not at the top of the list!  Surprise, surprise.  I MUST begin to eat more blackberries!

The ratings for choosing these most nutritious fruits were based on analysis of calories, sugar content, fiber, omega-3 content, antioxidant content, glycemic load and vitamins the fruit contained.  The little blackberry won out over all the larger fruits! 

Fortunately, the blackberry grows abundantly on southern hillsides.  You can find them everywhere in Alabama, especially this time of the year.  It is getting a little late into the season though, so hurry up and go blackberry picking before they are gone!  Go out and get some sunshine while you pick you a bucket full of the delicious berries.  Google "blackberry farms" and you will find they DO exist.  Go find them! 

Bring some luscious berries home and wash them well.  Put the clean berries into a zip lock bag and store them for up to six months in your freezer; that way you can enjoy blackberries all year long.  Blackberry jam is awesome.  You might want to try canning some.  Of course, they taste best just fresh off the vine before any processing at all, and this is where you get the most nutritious value. 

Blackberries are delicious in salads.  They make great flavors for a smoothie.  They are tasty mixed in with yogurt.  Blackberry jam is delicious on your pita bread sandwiches, and you can mix it with peanut butter for making gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.   I love blackberries on pancakes and waffles.  I love to sprinkle them in cereal or oatmeal.  We all need a little blackberry cobbler from time to time.  Just go easy on the ice cream topping and be sure you are on a feast day!

That little blackberry contains loads of vitamins C, A, B, E and K.  It is full of antioxidants that are good for fighting ageing, inflammation, cancer and several chronic diseases.   The blackberry is loaded down with nutritious minerals. 

There is one factor in the blackberry that makes it stand above all the other fruits for fighting cancer.  It has the ability to act as a natural chemotherapy drug to prevent the formation of certain cancer cells. 

Blackberries are good for keeping your brain healthy and preventing memory loss.  Science Daily has reported that berry fruits change the way neurons in the brain communicate. These changes in signaling can prevent inflammation in the brain that contribute to neuronal damage and improves both motor control and cognition. 

You may not be aware of the fact that the leaves of the blackberry bush may also be consumed.  People have used these leaves to treat inflammation of the gums and to soothe sore throats.    You can also use the blackberry leaves for a refreshing cup of tea.  It taste at bit bitter, but it will be better if you add honey to make it sweet. 

Blackberry juice is effective in helping blood to clot.  It is often used to aid in child labor, to stop the pain.  It is a muscle relaxer, and is a good natural remedy for women who suffer from severe menstrual cramps. 

A cup of blackberries will provide you with more fiber than a cup of bran flakes.  Eating blackberries should also help to increase your energy level.  Several recent studies indicate that blackberries are great for increasing the strength of your cardiovascular system and eliminating heart problems. 

The astringent tannins found in the blackberry is effective for oral hygiene and can be used to make a gargle or mouthwash.  Eating blackberries may help kill oral bacteria which can cause illness.  According to Oregon State University, blackberries contain gallic acid, rutin and ellagic acid, compounds that may have antiviral properties.  Researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of North Carolina found the blackberry extract’s antibacterial properties are beneficial.  They tested this on ten different kinds of bacteria and concluded that blackberry extract’s ability to kill pathogens, along with its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties make it a promising ingredient in products designed to prevent or treat periodontal infections.

It may disturb a few people to learn that drinking blackberry wine in moderation has good health benefits.  Please note the word “moderation,” as you pour a delicious and luxurious glass of blackberry wine.  As you sip, sit quietly and take in a sunset.  It is good for the soul!  A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that people who imbibe wine from dark berries are 45 percent less likely to develop colon cancer.

How is all of this possible from just one little berry?   Amazing!  All I can tell you is that you should eat your blackberries and become more fruitful!  I hope to post some good recipes for blackberries eventually. 

We will be talking much more about other fruits in the future.  Fruit is very good for you; both physically and spiritually. 

So now we know that the blackberry is the best fruit on earth, and you would do well to eat blackberries often!  That is true in a physical sense only, but if you are looking to find the best spiritual fruit the answer can be found in the following verse taken from Galatians 5:22-23:  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

What better combination could you ever find on this earth?  Serve up those blackberries with love!  They were meant to be shared.  Just blackberries and love will drastically improve your lifestyle and add flavor and fun into your days at the same time!