Berries are Good for the Heart

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition supports previous reports that the consumption of berries — bilberries, lingonberries, black currants and strawberries — confer heart health benefits by boosting levels of good cholesterol and improving blood pressure.

The berry group consumed 100 grams of whole bilberries and 50 grams of a lingonberry-rich nectar every other day. In addition, they consumed 100grams of purée of blackcurrants or strawberries and a juice of raspberry and chokeberry on the other days. Meanwhile, the control group received one of four different products, including sugar-water, sweet rice porridge, marmalade sweets, or sweet semolina porridge.

At the end of the study, the researchers found out that the levels of HDL-cholesterol rose significantly by 5.2 per cent in the berry group, compared to a 0.6 per cent increase in the control group. In addition to improvement in blood pressure, the berry- gourp also had improved platelet functions. The researchers attribute these health benefits to the polyphenols and vitamin C that berries are rich in.