Forget blueberries: There’s another superfruit we’ve all overlooked
If you're a healthy eating fan, you've no doubt heard many times that a mere handful of blueberries contains a staggering amount of cancer-fighting, heart-helping, brain-boosting antioxidants.
Next time you're prepping your morning porridge or looking for a fruity snack though, there's another fruit that could be even more beneficial to your health – and it's grown a lot closer to home, too.
The humble blackcurrant has reportedly been proven to contain six to eight times the concentration of antioxidants of the blueberries you'll find on your supermarket shelf. Research carried out as part of a new Channel 4 show, Superfoods: The Real Story found that, although blackcurrants are widely overlooked, they could be far more of a superfood than blueberries are.
Exercise physiologist Matthew Cook told the show's presenters that blackcurrants contain more of the antioxidant anthocyanin than "pretty much any fruit or veg we eat," according to the Daily Mail.
Anthocyanin may be linked to improved ability during exercise, as it helps dilate the blood vessels and allow more blood to get to the muscles. Sounds good to us.
If you're looking for a new way to use those blackcurrants growing in your garden, here's a smoothie recipe to get you started:
Blackcurrant Banana Blast
Ingredients
- 1 small ripe banana, sliced
- 140g fresh or frozen blackcurrants
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter
- 50ml apple juice or water
Method
- Place sliced banana and blackcurrants into blender and blend until smooth
- Pour in water/juice if using, and blend again until the smoothie is your desired consistency
- Top with some extra berries and serve
