Mulberries are the fruits of mulberry trees (Morus sp.) and related to figs and breadfruit. The trees are traditionally grown for their leaves — mainly in Asia and North America — as they’re the only food that silkworms eat.
They carry colorful berries — most commonly black, white, or red — that are often made into fruit juice, tea, jam, or canned foods, but can also be dried and eaten as a snack. Due to their sweet flavor, impressive nutritional value, and various health benefits, mulberries are gaining popularity worldwide. With so many nutrients, Mulberries are quite literally the all-rounders in the fruit kingdom. Let’s check out some of its benefits.
1. Improves digestive health
Mulberries contain a good amount of dietary fibre that our body needs for facilitating proper digestion. It bulks up the stool in the stomach and facilitates the movement of food through the digestive tract. This process relieves us from issues of constipation, bloating, and stomach cramps.
2. Improves blood circulation
The high iron content in mulberries can significantly boosts the production of red blood cells which helps the body to increase its distribution of oxygen to important tissues and organ systems, hence, helping to boost metabolism and optimize functionality of those systems.
3. Lower Cholesterol
Cholesterol is an important fatty molecule present in every cell of your body. However, elevated blood cholesterol levels are linked to increased heart disease risk. Animal studies show that mulberries and mulberry extracts can reduce excess fat and lower cholesterol levels. They may also improve the ratio between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol. Additionally, some test-tube experiments suggest that they reduce the formation of fat in the liver — potentially helping prevent fatty liver disease.
4. Builds bone tissue
The combination of vitamin K, calcium, and iron is the best combination of nutrients for building strong bone tissues and bones. And guess what? Mulberry is rich in all of them. These nutrients help reverse the signs of bone degradation and prevent bone disorders such as osteoporosis and arthritis.
5. Boosts your immune system
Vitamin C is a great weapon against any infection and foreign pathogens as it makes you stronger from within. Since it is not stored or produced in the body, you need to get it form your diet. A single serving of mulberries is almost the entire requirement of vitamin C for the day.
6. Improve Blood Sugar Control
People with type 2 diabetes are at risk of a rapid rise in blood sugar and need to be careful when they eat carbs. Mulberries contain the compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which inhibits an enzyme in your gut that breaks down carbs. Therefore, mulberries may be beneficial against diabetes by slowing down the increase in blood sugar after meals. Studies in people are needed before any firm conclusions can be reached.
7. Promotes brain health
To ensure a healthy brain, mulberries provide the body with the calcium that it seeks. They age-proof our brain, keep it young and alert, and even keep Alzheimer’s at bay.
8. Improves you vision
Drinking a glass of mulberry juice every day may help improve your vision. It has a high content of Vitamin A which is good for strengthening your eyesight and relieving eye strains. It also protects eyes from free radicals which is generally the cause of eye sight loss and retina degeneration.
