Blackcurrant, botanical name Ribes Nigrum, is a species of Ribes Berry grown originally in Central and Northern Europe and Northern Asia.
It is a small shrub attaining heights upto 2 meters. The leaves are 3-5 centimeters in diameter. Blackcurrant Berry is dark purple or black in color. A mature shrub can produce upto 5 kgs of berries.
Blackcurrants are one of the Super Fruits hyped by the Super Food industry and new varieties are being developed to improve yield, flavor, and resistance to diseases.
Blackcurrants have been consumed in the form of juice, juice blends, ice creams, tea, candies, syrups, and cordials. Astringents in Blackcurrants bring out flavor in sauces, meat dishes, and desserts. Popular drinks in which Blackcurrant juice is an ingredient are :
* Cider and Black (UK)
* Ribena (Russia)
Blackcurrants are rich in polyphenols, dietray fiber, and essential nutrients. Following health benefits are attributed to this Super Fruit :
* Being high in antioxidants Blackcurrants help in absorbing free radicals in the body.
* Blackcurrants help in maintaining cardiovascular health.
* Phytochemicals like polyphenols and anthocyanins help inhibit inflammation.
* Blackcurrants may be effective against neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
Sources : Wikipedia and Black Currant Foundation
Maqui Berry – botanical name Aristotelia Chilensis – belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. It is traditionally grown in Chile and Argentina. Maqui tree is evergreen and reaches heights upto 4 meters. It grows very fast, specially in rich soils with humidity.
The phytochemicals present in Maqui Berry and plant are :
* Anthocyanins
* Delphinidin
* Malvidin
* Petunidin
* Cumarins
* Triterpenes
* Flavonoids
* Cyanidin
www.phytochemicals.info/
Maqui Berry plant has many uses. The seeds are used for brewing wine and chicha, they are also eaten raw. Leaves of Maqui are used to prepare a balm to treat sore throat and for dressing up wounds. The anthocyanins in Maqui Berries have high antioxidant content. This helps in reducing inflammation and protects our cells from oxidative stress. Maqui Berry has been used by Mapuche Indians to increase strength and stamina, and also to treat diarrhea, ulcers and fever.
After Acai, Maqui is the latest Latin American fruit to enter the Western Superfood market. Like Acai, maqui is also good for our health. However, don’t be fooled by marketers. Look out for actual maqui content in the health supplement you are buying. Also remember that commonly available fruits and vegetables are good for health too.
Source : Phytochemicals and Chile Flora.
We all know what fruits are : super fruits are superior cousins of fruits. Some fruits – apples, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries – have much in common with super fruits, but for some strange reasons the experts in the super food industry don’t categorize them in the super fruits category.
The super foods category is big business and is expected to become a US $ 10 billion industry by 2011. Super fruits form an important component of the super foods industry.
A super fruit is a fruit which has very high levels of health promoting nutrients like – antioxidants.
The term super fruit was first used by marketing experts in the F and B industry in 2005.
Scientists, quite rightly believe that in order to be called a super fruit, rigorous scientific evidence must be made available. Unfortunately, the term is used liberally to include a growing list of common and rare fruits, some having sparse scientific evidence for being super.
These are the fruits commonly termed as Super Fruits :
1) Acai Berry
2) Blue Berry
3) Cran Berry
4) Goji Berry
5) Grape
6) Guarana
7) Mango
8.) Mangosteen
9) Noni
10) Pomegranate
11) Sea – Buckthorn
Sources : Wikipedia and super fruits dot org.
Also See :
Goji Berry : Nutrients Benefits and Criticism : 15.01.2010
Acai Palm and Acai Fruit : 07.01.2010
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