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Super Health Benefits of This One Little Known Berry
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Why is it that strawberries and blueberries get all the attention? Yes, they are super foods, but they certainly aren’t the only ones! A recent study published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation in July of 2014 showed that mulberries have outstanding health benefits! This was confirmed by researchers in Tokyo recently.
Mulberry trees are originally from China, but are now grown in almost every part of the world. In China, mulberry leaves are used to feed silkworms and the berries are used as both medicine and food. Known for their powerful abilities to protect us from many diseases, mulberries are increasing in popularity as their health benefits become more well-known.
Keep reading and find out why blueberries don’t hold the market share on superfoods!
1. Slows the Progression of Diabetes
This is perhaps mulberries greatest claim to fame. The study published in July of 2014 showed that mulberries were able to slow the progression of type 2 diabetes. More than 60 percent of the subjects in this study experienced lower and regulated blood glucose levels on a consistent basis when they consumed mulberries as a part of their diet. Traditional medicine in several countries, including China and Tobago, have all used mulberry leaves and berries to encourage balanced blood sugar levels. This research has promising effects that the use of mulberries can possibly treat and prevent cases of diabetes in the future.
2. Improves Vision
Mulberries are often included in many juice mixes due to their high content of vitamins A and C. They are also known to be high in antioxidants that help protect our vision, especially as we age. Antioxidants protect us from the damage that free radicals cause, including deterioration of eyesight and age related macular degeneration, a disease of the eyes that causes blindness.
3. Super for the Skin
Both men and women often turn to creams and lotions that contain mulberry concentrations to help treat dry, red, or aging skin. Even if you have sensitive skin, mulberries can help to rejuvenate your skin. The high levels of antioxidants in mulberries remove toxins from the skin, even out the skin tone, fight acne, and moisturize the skin naturally. These same properties also encourage the growth of longer, stronger hair that is full of luster and shine. Find out more natural remedies for hair.
4. Stops Swelling and Redness
Traditional Chinese medicine has used mulberry as a remedy to stop swelling and skin redness for thousands of years. A recent study conducted out of Romania showed that a combination of mulberry leaves and curcumin worked well for stopping edema and red skin patches that did not respond to other treatments.
5. Protection for the Brain
One study done in Thailand at Khon Kaen University showed that when male rats who had impaired memories were given mulberries, they had improved memory responses as well as much lower levels of oxidative stress. Mulberries are loaded with choline, a type of tonic for your brain cells and a substance that is known for helping improve the memory. Although more studies need to be done in this area, this one study holds a great deal of promise for those with memory problems.
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6. Immune Support
Mulberries contain certain alkaloids that activate macrophages in the body. These are a type of white blood cell that stimulates the immune system, telling it to go on the offensive against health threats. Mulberries high vitamin C levels also offer lots of healthy support for your immune system as well.
7. Cancer Protection
Mulberries are super rich in resveratrol, an antioxidant that is well known for helping to lower your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
SEE ALSO: Rainbow Colored Foods that Fight Cancer
8. Joint Pain
With its natural anti-inflammatory compounds, consuming mulberries regularly can help to stop joint pain, such as arthritis, that is caused by inflammation.
9. Lowers Cholesterol
Consuming mulberries regularly in your diet can help lower your cholesterol levels, as well as improve your kidney and liver function.
10. Improves Digestion
Mulberries are known for helping to stimulate and improve overall digestion. Read about other amazing foods for your digestion.
Dried mulberries are available in almost all health food stores. There are several different varieties. Red and purple taste very much like blackberries, while the white mulberry has a honey like sweetness.
If you are lucky enough to have a mulberry tree, or have access to fresh mulberries, you are in for a real treat. You can add them to just about anything. Try them in your oatmeal, smoothies, salads, or just eaten right off the tree. They don’t freeze well, however, so if you have a lot of them you should think about making them into jam, jelly, or syrup. Instead of blueberry pancakes, try some mulberry pancakes for a sweet change your family will love. You can also make tea from the berries or the leaves.
If your yard space allows, think about planting a mulberry tree so you can enjoy the sweet goodness of mulberries anytime you like.
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Sources:
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Imran M, Khan H, Shah M, Khan R, Khan F. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of certain Morus species. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2010 Dec;11(12):973-80. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1000173.
Shankar S, Singh G, Srivastava RK. Chemoprevention by resveratrol: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Front Biosci. 2007 Sep 1;12:4839-54. Review.
Kim SB, Chang BY, Jo YH, Lee SH, Han SB, Hwang BY, Kim SY, Lee MK. Macrophage activating activity of pyrrole alkaloids from Morus alba fruits. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Jan 9;145(1):393-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.007. Epub 2012 Nov 16.
Kimura T, Nakagawa K, Kubota H, Kojima Y, Goto Y, Yamagishi K, Oita S, Oikawa S, Miyazawa T. Food-grade mulberry powder enriched with 1-deoxynojirimycin suppresses the elevation of postprandial blood glucose in humans. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 11;55(14):5869-74. Epub 2007 Jun 8.
Lans CA. Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006 Oct 13;2:45.
Wang HJ, Chiang BH. Anti-diabetic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula. Food Funct. 2012 Nov;3(11):1161-9. doi: 10.1039/c2fo30139c.
Kandylis K, Hadjigeorgiou I, Harizanis P. The nutritive value of mulberry leaves (Morus alba) as a feed supplement for sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Jan;41(1):17-24. doi: 10.1007/s11250-008-9149-y. Epub 2008 Mar 15.
