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Purple berries: mightiest antioxidant punch Purple berries may not be as popular as their red and blue counterparts, but researchers predict that we'll soon be seeing and eating a lot more of them, thanks to their high antioxidant content. A new study shows that purple berries, such as elderberry, black currant, and chokeberry, are as much as 50 percent higher in antioxidants known as flavonoids than some of the more common berry varieties, including blueberries and cranberries. Researchers say those potent antioxidant concentrations will likely mean that purple berries will play a bigger role in the creation of health foods, drinks, and nutritional supplements designed to exploit the health benefits of antioxidants. Researchers say among all common fruits and vegetables, berries have the highest antioxidant concentration, especially those with dark-colored skins. Although the antioxidant profiles of red and blue berries have been well-studied, less is known about so-called purple berries, such as elderberry, black currant, and chokeberry. In this study, which will appear in the Dec. 15 print edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers analyzed the antioxidant content of several varieties of black currants, red currants, gooseberries, chokeberries, and elderberries. The flavonoids found in these berries come in two main classes called anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Researchers say these two classes of flavonoids account for a major portion of the flavonoids in the western diet and are of interest in nutrition and medicine because of their potential protective effects against disease. Laboratory analysis showed that the chokeberry had the highest total anthocyanin concentration among the berries studied, and berries in general, with 1,480 mg per 100 grams of fresh berries. Gooseberries had the lowest concentration of this type of antioxidant. Total proanthocyanidin concentrations ranged from 23 to 664 mg per 100 grams of fresh berries in elderberry and chokeberry, respectively. Overall, chokeberries also had the highest antioxidant capacity and gooseberries had the lowest. But the total antioxidant capacity of a food does not necessarily reflect their potential health benefits. Further studies will be needed to determine how well the antioxidants found in purple berries are digested and absorbed by the body. Dr. Cinque's comments: Berries are the king of fruits when it comes to antioxidant content, and you can't go wrong eating any of them. Berries are one of the oldest known fruits, and they are believed to have existed, close to their present form, since before the human race appeared. Back in the "hunter/gatherer" days, berries were one of the most important foods gathered. Today, thanks to the global economy, we see berries in the markets all year long. The ones from Chile and Argentina available during our winter are very expensive. But these fruits are so rich that even a small amount can make a significant contribution to your nutritional well-being. I have eaten elderberries and gooseberries. I don't know that I have ever eaten a chokeberry, but I am going to keep my eyes open for them. I used to live further south in Texas in a rural area, and there, wild black and purple berries grew along the creekbeds. They ripened early in the Spring, and they were so delicious. I have also had the experience of picking and eating wild blueberries high atop the Appalachian mountains in Virginia, and they were outstanding also. E-mail to a friend Previous Article Next Article |
