Black Raspberries: Next Superfood? Antioxidant Properties Can Help You Live Longer

Black raspberries may be the next super food. Researchers found that black raspberries that are grown in Central Europe showed greater health benefits compared to their better known relatives raspberries or blackberries, according to a study at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland.

Berries are well known - since they aren't just delicious - for their high levels of potent antioxidants, which can help protect and reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, caner and respiratory diseases. The surprising health benefits of berries have been constantly piling on top of each other.

However, a research team in Europe led by Anna Kostecka-Gugała decided to measure the content of phenolics and anthocyanins in black raspberries, red raspberries and blackberries, where they assessed the antioxidant potential and health benefits of these berries. The researchers found that black raspberries that are grown in Central Europe have greater health benefits than their better known cousins.

The researchers found that antioxidants present in black raspberries were three times higher compared to other fruits in the experiment. There phenolics and anthocyanines (antioxidants) levels in black raspberries was over 1000 percent higher compared to its cousins, raspberries and blackberries. Also, black raspberries had a higher level of secondary metabolites, which are been beneficial for human health, according to the researchers.

Now, home grown black raspberries might be even more appealing for health-conscious Europeans.

The findings of this study were published in Open Chemistry.

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