Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits of Blackcurrants
Sweet, juicy blackcurrants are popular summer season berries, are known as “the forbidden fruit” in the United States. These tiny, round purple-black berries are rich in several valuable health-benefiting anthocyanins, polyphenolic, antioxidants, and vitamin C that have long been attributed to longevity and wellness.
Botanically, they are related very closely to berries, and belonging to the family of Grossulariaceae, of the genus; Ribes. Its scientific name: Ribes nigrum. Currants are popular snacks in Europe for centuries and are native to Northern Europe and Northern Asia.
Black currants have a tart flavor and come in different colors. Blackcurrants seed oil, extracts, leaves, fruit, and flowers are considered safe at recommended doses. People use it to strengthen the immune system, gut health, sore throats, aging, inflammation, neurological diseases, and ease flu symptoms.
Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Of Blackcurrants
Blackcurrants have a high concentration of:
- Anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant.
- Vitamins: vitamin-C and vitamin-A
- Essential vitamins such as A, B-5(pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine ), B-1 (thiamin), and E.
- Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA (a type of omega-6 fatty acid)
- Phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals are called anthocyanins.
- Rich in flavonoid antioxidants such as β -carotene, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin levels.
These nutritions provides a variety of health benefits –
Packed with vitamin C
Just 100 g of fresh currants blackberries has 300% of the daily recommended intake sources of vitamin C. They are excellent sources of daily recommended value.
Vitamin C is required for maintaining collagen formation in bones, blood vessels, heal wounds, and shorten the common cold. Also, the consumption of vitamins and flavonoid antioxidants has been found to reduce the formation of cancer-causing substances as well as reduce oxidative stress.
Vitamin C may also help:
Regenerate the skin
Reduce free radicals in the body
Absorb iron
prevent scurvy
Boosts immunity
Prevent gout attacks
Protects your memory
Reducing heart disease and dementia risk
Immune Health
Blackcurrants carry a rich amount of vitamin C, including antioxidants. Altogether, these vitamins help to give the immune system a boost.
Furthermore, Research studies have shown that vitamin C can help your body to fight infection and viruses more effectively.
Eye Health
Consumption of black currant-sourced anthocyanins can help treat glaucoma. Gamma-linoleic acid, linoleic acid, and other antioxidants are promising for reducing visual fatigue and treating dry eyes. (study)
Digestive Health
Antioxidants present in black currant fruit act as anti-cancer agents in our bodies and help in fighting free radicals. It is believed that the anthocyanins present in black currant can protect our bodies from breast and liver cancer.
Diabetes Management
The low glycemic index of black currant fruit can help in controlling diabetes. Actually, the carbohydrates present in low glycemic index foods are broken down in the body very slowly, due to this the glucose level in the body does not increase immediately.
Additionally, the polyphenols and manganese in fresh berries can also be beneficial for diabetes.
Conclusion
Blackcurrants contain several important vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that benefit well-health. They are low in calories, carbs, and fat.
Antioxidants in blackcurrants, such as improve eyes vision, reduce inflammation, and may help protect against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
They are easy to incorporate into your diet, whether fresh, dried, oils, pills, and capsules, or powder.