Blackberries, what do they have to do with elderly people ?
Blackberry picking used to be an enjoyable activity, foraging for free berries in late August to be made into jams and pies. Now available in supermarkets all year round – what do blackberries contain and why should we all be having a few more in our diets ?
Blackberries are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. They are also a good source of Vitamin E , Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Copper, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese. Blackberries are high in gallic acid, which have both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of regularly tested fruits and are also rich in Vitamin C and fibre which have been shown to help reduce the risks of certain cancers and may help prevent constipation.
Blackberries are low in calories, carbohydrates and have no fat, which makes them popular in low carb and low calorie diets.
They are also soft to chew for people with dentures and mixed with kiwi fruit which is also very high in anti-oxidants makes a colourful bowel of healthy eating. Both fruits are also juicy helping aid hydration which is very important in the elderly.
