Blackberries are power-packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are often enjoyed fresh, as a jam or in baked goods.
For just 62 calories, one cup of blackberries will provide you with about 31 percent of your daily value of heart-healthy fiber.
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They're closely related to raspberries and are known as "aggregate fruits" because they're made from multiple flower ovaries that combine to make one fruit.
Blackberries are found primarily in northern temperate regions, and wild blackberries are abundant in North America and the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines.
Blackberries Nutrition Facts
One cup of blackberries is equal to a single serving. One cup of blackberries contains:
Vitamins, Minerals and Other Micronutrients
Health Benefits of Blackberries
Like other berries, blackberries have a rich and varied nutrient profile. Blackberries contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
1. Blackberries Can Help With Weight Management
Blackberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which supports healthy weight-loss goals and helps maintain a healthy weight.
In fact, adding more fiber to your diet is linked to lower body weight, according to an April 2013 study in Nutrients.
Dietary fiber creates bulk and increases fecal water content, helping keep you full and your intestinal tract running smoothly. Fiber can also help improve glucose tolerance, increase insulin sensitivity and reduce levels of blood cholesterol levels and triglycerides.
Boosting your fiber intake to 30 grams per day is an effective approach to weight loss, as shown in a February 2015 Annals of Internal Medicine study.
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What's more, eating a plant-forward diet full of whole fruits (such as blackberries) as well as vegetables, legumes and nuts has been shown to be an effective strategy for treating obesity, according to a November 2018 study in Nutrition and Diabetes.
2. The Minerals in Blackberries Can Support Healthy Bones
Blackberries contain minerals associated with good bone health, including manganese, copper, zinc, magnesium and vitamin K.
These minerals work together to support bone homeostasis. Manganese helps with bone metabolism, assisting in the prevention of osteoporosis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) while copper and zinc help with bone formation and overall structure, per American Bone Health.
The majority of magnesium in our body is found in our bones and functions closely with calcium and phosphorous. Vitamin K plays a key role in bone metabolism and is essential for bone health, according to the NIH.
3. Blackberries Pack Powerful Antioxidant Properties
Berries contain a number of health-promoting nutrients, such as phytochemicals, manganese and vitamin C, which have been found to be therapeutic for a variety of gastrointestinal and immune-related illnesses, according to the October 2017 issue of Nutrition Reviews.
Manganese helps to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known as free radicals, and help the body deal with oxidative stress, according to an April 2018 report in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. Blackberries contain 40 percent of your DV of this mineral.
Meanwhile, vitamin C helps limit the damaging effects of free radicals through its antioxidant activity, all of which have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and immunity, according to the NIH.
There are currently no confirmed or known food allergies or drug interactions related to blackberries. Be sure to discuss any medication and food interactions with your health professional.
Try adding a handful of blackberries into your morning smoothie to boost its fiber and antioxidant content.
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Blackberry Preparation and Useful Tips
Summer is blackberry season and when the plump fruits have a rich, deep color, a sweet aroma and are most likely to taste best.
Avoid blackberries that still have a hull attached in the center, indicating they were picked before fully ripening. Packaged blackberries should not be packed in too tightly, have stains or a lot of moisture or look crushed or moldy. You can also find frozen blackberries year-round in the freezer section of your local grocery store.
When preparing blackberries, follow these cleaning tips to protect the delicate fruits from injury:
Remove any crushed berries or they will cause the others to mold quickly. To prevent crushing and spoilage, you may want to transfer them from their original container to a single layer in a shallow glass dish covered with a damp paper towel.
Blackberries are extremely perishable and are best eaten within two days of purchasing. Never wash berries before storing them and be sure to place them in the refrigerator as soon as possible.
How to Freeze Blackberries
If you can't eat the blackberries within two days, you can easily freeze them.
Creative Ways to Use Blackberries
Blackberries are delicious raw or cooked. Here are some quick serving ideas.
Read more:
Blackberries Nutrition: Benefits, Calories and Recipes - LIVESTRONG.COM
