The Berrier, the Merrier
The bright-coloured juicy fruits found in the wild and on shrubs may be even healthier than we think. A recent study shows that in addition to other potential health benefits, berries are a superior source of polyphenols.
Polyphenols, a group of chemical substances found in plants, are natural antioxidants. Potential beneficial health effects include decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer and reducing viral, inflammatory and allergy effects.The research on these miracle substances has, however, been quite limited so far. There are studies that examine the polyphenol contents of individual foods. For example, red wine, chocolate, and green tea are said to be rich in polyphenols. Yet, data on contents of a more extensive array of foods has been missing until now.
As an answer to this demand, a joint Finnish research project of MTT Agrifood Research and University of Kuopio analysed the polyphenol contents of 180 foods of plant origin. The three-year project started in 2003 covered the most typical foods consumed in Finland.
Among the food items analysed, berries stood out as the superior source of polyphenols. The top 20 list included chokeberry, rose hip, bilberry, sweet rowanberry, blueberry, black currant, crowberry, saskatoon berry, rowanberry, cranberry, raspberry, bog whortleberry, cloudberry, lingonberry, and strawberry. In addition to 15 berries, cocoa powder, rye and wheat bran, dark chocolate, peanut and dark plum made the list.
"Before the study, we knew that berries are a good source of polyphenols, but what took us by surprise was how excellent they turned out to be," notes Senior Research Scientist Pirjo Mattila from MTT Agrifood Research Finland.
During the next phase of the project, the polyphenol contents of foods will be entered into the Finnish Food Composition Database. With the help of the online database www.fineli.fi, the results of the polyphenol study will be freely accessible to all parties interested in them.
For an individual, the message is clear. Eat berries, they are good for you.
BY ELISA HELAVUORI
ILLUSTRATIONS BY VUOKKO ISOHERRANEN
