Blueberries, raspberries, other berries enhance health

I love raspberries. It’s great to be able to go out to my raspberry patch this time of year and eat fresh, organic raspberries right off the plants.

I developed my fondness for raspberries was I was growing up. I was able forage in my great-aunt Mable Kenyon’s raspberry patch in Cashmere, Wash., when my family went to visit.

About five years ago, I bought a single raspberry plant at the Olympia Food Coop. Now I have a raspberry patch.

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and other berries are good for your health.

They contain phytonutrients, chemical compounds in plants that repair cells. These compounds have been and are being studied, reports Richard Brightheart, acupuncturist, in his book “An Integrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness: Revealing the Root Causes of Modern Disease,” for their ability to:

• Support immune function.

• Prevent illness.

• Slow the aging process.

• Help to support the body in healing.

They are known for their strong antioxidant/free radical scavenging action as well as their ability to reduce inflammation.

Berries that seem to hold these properties, Brightheart reports, include:

• Raspberries

• Cranberries

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Goji berries

• The palm berry acai

So enjoy raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries as the summer months unfold. And be sure to look for organic berries at your local farmers’ market.

Disclosure: Richard Brightheart is my acupuncturist, and I edited his book “An Integrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness: Revealing the Root Causes of Modern Disease.”