What are blackcurrants?
Blackcurrants are small berries which are coloured a very deep purple and contain lots of little seeds. They grow on bushes and can easily be grown in a home garden with a good, sustaining yield after a few years. They are mainly commercially grown for blackcurrant drinks such as Ribena and are also increasingly used in medication and supplements for their extraordinary healing powers.
So What's So Good About Them?
Well for a start, blackcurrants are very rich in many phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals, in fact, they have four times the amount of vitamin C of oranges, twice the amount of potassium as bananas and twice the "miracle" anti-oxidants of blueberries. Blackcurrants also contain some very rare essential omega-3 fatty acids. The miracle anti-oxidant is called anthocyanin, which gives berries their red color, it relieves inflammation with a similar effect to aspirin. Blackcurrants have also been shown to contain cassis polysaccharide (CAPS) which has been found to be highly toxic against tumor cells. Its anti-cancer link is still being researched as with its link to several other diseases however blackcurrants are certainly a promising food. A recent study has also shown that a diet of blackcurrants can improve blood circulation by up to 40% by relieving stress and muscles.
Where Can I Get Them From?
Unless you're picking your own you are mostly going to get blackcurrants frozen. Look out for free-flowing blackcurrants as these tend to be of greater quality. The usual price for the retail of blackcurrants is $10 per kg although if you find a farmer and contact him directly you will often get a vastly cheaper deal (possibly $3 per kg). Also if you can get your hands on New Zealand produce then you are lucky enough to have the best on the market.
Not only do blackcurrants offer a plethora of nutrients but have also been found to help with relief for athritis and has even been found to help with a range of other diseases, even cancer! Blackcurrants are a true miracle food, plus, they taste great too!
