By Kenesha Hylton

Well, summer is here after a beautiful 3-day weekend … only problem is I need to get in serious shape for swimsuit season. To be honest I have been trying to eat healthier foods and not spend as much money on it, which is hard sometimes because I really love to eat. My favorite snack lately seems to be berries, not only because they happen to usually be bite-size but, lately at the farmers market they have been pretty cheap because it is peak season. Today’s post is dedicated to berries with benefits and two great recipes.

Acai Berry

Have you heard about the acai berry? Acai berries are highly touted by marketers who say it’s one of the elite super foods with anti-aging and weight loss properties. Some manufacturers use acai berries in cosmetics and beauty products. If you don’t know, what an acai berry is it’s a reddish, purple fruit similar to a blueberry. It comes from the acai palm tree, which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits.

Research on the acai berry has focused on its possible antioxidant activity. It has been said that it may help prevent diseases caused by stress such as heart disease and cancer. Acai contains several substances called anthocyanins and flavonoids.

Anthocyanins and flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life’s stressors. They also play a role in the body’s cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease

Strawberry

The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. There are more than 600 varieties of strawberries that differ in flavor, size and texture.

Strawberries contain a range of nutrients, with vitamin C heading the group. They also contain significant levels of phytonutrients and antioxidants, which fight free radicals. These antioxidant properties are believed to be linked to what makes the strawberry bright red.

In addition to vitamin C, strawberries also provide an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese, as well as folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

Now Some Berry Good Recipes …

1. Acai Smoothie

10 oz ice-cold water
1/4 cup raw almonds
1 ea banana, frozen
1ea frozen Acai smoothie pack
3 tsp flax oil
2 tsp honey, or to taste
1/4 tsp stevia liquid extract, or to taste
1 tsp spirulina (optional)
– OR unflavored mixed green food powder (optional)
1 serving protein powder of choice

Directions

To freeze your banana, simply peel, wrap in cellophane, and leave in the freezer overnight.

Place almonds and ice water in Vita-Mix. Walk speed up to 10 and then switch to high. Blend for two minutes. Remove container from base and add rest of ingredients. Walk speed up to 10 and switch to high, pressing frozen ingredients into the blades with tamper. Blend until smooth.

For regular blenders replace the almonds and water with 10 oz of pre-made almond milk, either store purchased or home made. You will need to break up the banana and frozen smoothie pack. If necessary, you may wish to thaw the acai pack before using. For the best creamy texture however, the banana should be frozen.

2. Summer Strawberry Cocktail

2 parts sweet tea vodka
1 part wild strawberry liqueur
3 parts lemonade
optional garnish: 1 strawberry

Directions

Fill a highball glass with ice and add all ingredients
Option garnish: slice a strawberry in half and place on the rim of the glass

Posted in Food, Recipes