Did you know that mulberry has a lot of health benefits? If you want to know more – keep reading!
Mulberry is a tree mostly known as a silkworm food. But its leaves and fruits have many medicinal and nutritional benefits, too. The berry is delicious and contains many nutrients that are important for our health.
Fruits contain phytonutrients – anthocyanins, plant pigments that play an increasingly important role in nutrition against many diseases. In addition, these plant pigments also serve as natural food colours, which is very important recently, when artificial colours are gradually being phased out in the food industry. Anthocyanins do not only give black colour but the whole spectrum, from orange, red, pink, and blue to black. And they are all soluble in water. The most important characteristic of anthocyanins is that they are good at fighting cancer, and may prevent aging and neurological diseases, inflammatory processes, diabetes and bacterial infections.
Mulberry fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, plant acids and fruit sugars. In addition to anthocyanin, it also contains many phytonutrients that are good for maintaining health. One of them is resveratrol, which has been proven to reduce the risk of stroke. The vitamin C content is very high, so this fruit is an excellent source. It also contains a small amount of vitamins A and E, and other antioxidants such as lutein, and zeaxanthin that help protect the retina from harmful UV rays. Mulberry also contains vitamin B complex and vitamin K.
Mulberry is rich in iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium.
Health benefits of mulberry include:
- Contains healthy carbohydrates – It contains natural sugar that is converted into glucose during digestion, which is the primary source of energy in the body.
- Contains a good amount of fibre – It contains a good amount of fibre which is very important for healthy bodily functions. Fibre improves digestion, accelerates the movement of waste products in the digestive system, reduces bloating and constipation, and can lower cholesterol levels.
- Contains vitamins – Mulberry contains a large amount of vitamins C, B and K, and a smaller amount of vitamins A and E. Essential vitamins are very important for the body, because they participate in collagen production, maintaining bone health, heart health and strengthening immunity. These vitamins participate in cell renewal and slow down the aging process in the body.
- Regulates blood pressure – Contains resveratrol which can dilate blood vessels and improve blood pressure, reduce blood clotting, can reduce pain and swelling, can reduce blood sugar levels in the blood, helps the body fight disease. It can also help weight loss.
- Improves vision – Contains lutein and zeaxanthin that improve vision and overall eye health.
- Promotes healthy circulation – It contains a large amount of iron, which is necessary for the transport of oxygen to the cells.
- Contains antioxidants – Mulberries contain antioxidants that fight free radicals and contribute to the overall health of the body.
There are different ways of using mulberries such as:
- Eat them row, they are nice, sweet and delicious
- Add mulberries to smoothies
- Top your chia pudding with mulberries
- Add mulberries to a fruit salad
- Bake a mulberry cake
- Make a mulberry jam
- Make a mulberry liqueur
There are many studies that show that mulberry leaves are a good source of fibre, protein and other nutrients.
Unfortunately, mulberry also has one bad feature – it produces a very large amount of pollen, which can significantly affect the condition of people suffering from pollen allergies. This is why it is usually grown far from cities.
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➥ DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to replace medical treatment. The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.