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Beautiful & Fresh Berries
by Tara Bianca Tiller
 My
favourite fruits are starting to arrive. Beautiful, fresh,
juicy berries. I am like a blackbear when it comes to berries,
especially blueberries. I will eat about four pounds a day
when they are in season. I'll start my day with them for breakfast
and lunch. I feel supported and nourished by them until dinnertime
when I have a large salad. And, there is good reason why,
too!
Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries contain relatively
high quantities of ellagic acid, which has a wide range
of functions: anti-carcinogen / anti-mutagen, inhibition of
HIV binding to cells, inhibition of blood clotting, and free
radical scavenging have been documented in humans. The "American
Cancer Society's Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer
Methods" has documented that Ellagic Acid is a very promising
compound, because it causes apoptosis (cell death) of cancer
cells in the lab tests, with no change to normal healthy cells.
Blueberries are powerful disease fighters for optimum
health and are considered a super food. The pigment that
makes the blueberries blue is thought to be responsible for
antioxidant activity. “We now know that blueberries
are one of the best sources of antioxidants, substances that
can slow the aging process and reduce cell damage that can
lead to cancer,” according to the American Institute for Cancer
Research. 
Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products
of metabolism called "free radicals" that can lead
to cancer and other age related diseases. There have be studies
in Europe that have documented the benefits of the pigment
in blueberries to improved vision and the ease of
eye fatigue.
The benefits of antioxidants in blueberries also lower
the risk of some cancers and promote urinary tract health,
memory function, and healthy aging with their varying amounts
of health-promoting phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and
phenolics, currently being studied for their antioxidant and
anti-aging benefits.
In addition, researchers have identified disease prevention
high on the benefits of eating blueberries, citing that blueberries
may reduce the build up of so called "bad" cholesterol
that contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke through
antioxidant properties.
Storage Tips:
Select berries that are in dry, unstained containers. (Stained
containers may indicate oversoft berries that are not freshly
picked.) Mold on berries spreads quickly. Never leave a moldy
berry next to a good one. Do not wash or hull berries until
you're ready to use them, and refrigerate unwashed berries
as soon as possible. Not washing them prolongs their freshness.
As with any fruit the more you handle it the more you damage
it, so handle gently with TLC and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Store them in a colander in the refrigerator. This
allows the cold air to circulate around them.
Have you ever wondered what that powdery blue coating
was on a blueberry? Many people think is spray/pesticide
residue, well it isn't. Fresh Blueberries carry a powdery
"bloom" similar to that found on grapes. The powdery
blue coating is natural wax or protective skin for the fruit
and is a sign of a healthy berry.
If you are going to freeze them DO NOT wash them until
you're ready to eat. If you wash off this powdery coating
off, the berries will freeze like a brick. By not washing,
the wax remains on the berry and lets lets the berries individually
freeze so you'll have little blue marbles instead. In the
case of refrigerated blueberries, the coating keeps them from
going bad.
Like tomatoes, berries are at their fullest flavour at room
temperature. So, when you are ready to eat your berries, take
them out ahead of time.
Raw and Living Food Articles and Links to Articles:
On Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fruits, Roots, Stems, Greens, Flowers, and Nuts
Growing Food
Lifestyle
Off Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fasting and Cleanses
Growing Food
Misc.
Free Books Online:
- Soil and
Health Library - This is a specialist library about holistic agriculture,
holistic health and self-sufficient homestead living. Most of the titles in
this library are out of print. Many are quite hard to find. Here are a few
by Shelton:
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