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Finding "Berried" Treasure in the Hills of Tennessee
By Jon Herring
One of my favorite memories of growing up in Tennessee was walking in the woods picking blackberries during the summer. And I wasn't disappointed on my recent trip back home. This past weekend, my fiancee Kelley and I grabbed a basket and went out to pick our fill from the prickly bushes.
In less than an hour, we had a basket full of berries, which we used to make a cobbler, top salads, add to a smoothie, and garnish an evening martini.
Delicious though they are, berries are a lot more than a sweet summer treat. They are low in calories and low on the glycemic index, and they are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins (particularly B, C, and E), minerals, ellagic acid (a potent cancer fighter), and antioxidants. In fact, according to the USDA, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries all rank in the top 10 in antioxidant capacity of over 100 common foods.
Some of the most potent antioxidants in berries are called anthocyanins. They are responsible for the purplish-black color of blackberries and blueberries, and have been shown to fight everything from heart disease and cancer to memory loss.
So, whether you pick 'em in the woods or pick 'em up at the store... whether you eat 'em fresh or frozen... have some berries a few times a week. A handful makes a great snack.
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