Boysenberries are juicy berries that are large and purple in color. They are thought to be a breed between the Loganberry, the Pacific Berry, and the European raspberry. The Boysenberry has a tangy taste, and it can be best taken as jellies, syrups, jams, and dessert dressings. However, Boysenberries are seasonal.
You will not find them throughout the year in your grocery store. The berries are high in essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and potassium, respectively. It is advisable to take the berries fresh or frozen.
Canned boysenberries are thought to contain sugary and fatty acids. Besides them having an array of benefits, the berries are also juicy and delicious. In this article, we will discuss the various health benefits that are associated with the consumption of boysenberries.
Active Components Contained In Boysenberries
Fiber
When Boysenberries are fresh or frozen, they are capable of providing the body with seven grams of dietary fiber per one cup serving. The daily recommended fiber ranges between 20 to 35 grams per day. However, an average diet can only provide the body with 15 grams of fiber, which is below the recommended daily intake.
Fiber does not undergo digestion in the digestive tract. It reduces the risks associated with the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract such as constipation, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids. The fiber also helps promote the health of the heart by keeping arteries clear and healthy.
Vitamin E
A high percentage of vitamin E can be acquired from frozen boysenberries. When the berries are canned, the amount of vitamin E present is reduced. A one-cup serving of the frozen or fresh berries will supply the body with 1.15 mg of the vitamin. The amount is slightly less than ten percent of the daily recommended intake of 15 milligrams. Vitamin E plays various roles in the body.
The vitamin is known as one of the best natural antioxidants. It helps destroy free radicals that may be harmful to the body cells. The action of the vitamin has also been shown to protect the body from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The vitamin is also involved in the blood clotting process to prevent excess bleeding from an injury or during surgery.
Folate
Folate is a B vitamin that plays various roles in the body, including the production of energy and formation of body cells. The daily requirement of folate is 400 micrograms. However, pregnant women are advised to take a dose ranging from 600 to 800 milligrams.
Folate has been shown to prevent the occurrence of certain congenital disabilities, such as defects of the nervous system and those of the brain. Boysenberries have been shown to provide a significant percentage of folate upon their consumption.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another important vitamin that plays the role of a natural antioxidant. The vitamin is also needed for the growth and repair of different tissues and cells in the body. Vitamin C takes part in the manufacture of collagen which is necessary for the synthesis of the skin, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels. The boysenberries are high in vitamin C.
Minerals
Boysenberries are high in minerals that play essential roles in the body. One of the primary minerals that are acquired from boysenberries is potassium. The electrolyte has various functions in the body, including facilitating the conduction of electricity in the body with the help of other electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, magnesium, and calcium.
Potassium is also crucial to the electoral activity of the heart. It also takes part in the contraction and relaxation of the skeletal muscle system as well as the contraction of the smooth muscle. Its activity in the smooth muscles makes it vital for a normal digestion process.
Health Benefits Of Boysenberries
1. Boysenberries Help Improve Digestive Health
One of the active components of the berries is fiber. The fiber helps in the prevention of constipation, resulting in easier management of the bowel symptoms. The active component can get rid of excess cholesterol from the arteries and blood vessels.
2. Boosts Brain Health
The various components of the berries, including potassium, folate, and the vitamins, play a role in the improvement of brain health. Studies have shown that folate can be used in the management of Alzheimer’s disease. It also prevents rapid cognitive decline from occurring. Boysenberries are also high in vitamin B6, a deficiency of which may lead to nausea.
3. The Berries Are Helpful To Pregnant Mothers And Their Unborn Babies
Because the berries are rich in nutrients such as folic acid and folate, boysenberries are beneficial to pregnant women. Folate is required for the formation of the neural tube and red blood cells in unborn babies. Lack of sufficient folic acid in pregnant women may lead to an underweight baby. Neural tube defects are also likely to be seen.
4. Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
The phenomenal potassium to sodium ratio contained in the berries helps reduce the risk of hypertension. It has been shown that a cup of boysenberries has 183 milligrams of potassium and 1.3 milligrams of sodium. The ratio allows the blood vessels to rest while maintaining proper blood pressure. The high potassium content has been shown to reduce the strain exerted on the cardiac muscle.
5. Boosts Bone Health
The high content of vitamin K in boysenberries helps in retaining calcium in the bone matrix. The calcium mineral is essential in the prevention of osteoporosis. Adequate intake of vitamin K has also been shown to reduce the excretion of calcium in the urine.
6. Boysenberries Boost The Body’s Immune System
Boysenberries are high in vitamin C content. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that helps destroy harmful free radicals in the body. The vitamin has also been demonstrated to boost the body's ability to fight infections in the body. Vitamin C is also known to get rid of carcinogens that may cause cancer in the body.
7. They Boost Energy Production In The Body
Manganese is known as an essential cofactor in some of the enzymes that are involved in energy production. One cup of the berries contains 36 percent of your daily recommended value of manganese.
Boysenberry Review Summary
The nutritional value of boysenberries is hard to ignore. It is advisable to eat the berries on a regular basis to benefit from their many healthy effects.
