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| Health studies and research put blackberries in the pink | ||
| 07/18/2007 | ||
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Suggested lead New research shows that blackberries are about the most healthy of all foods. That's good news for Oregon, which leads the nation in production of commercially-grown blackberries: Entire audio file Audio 01 As Oregon blackberries continue to be harvested this month, two new health studies are bolstering the status of the fruit. The first was a collaborative effort between U.S. and Norwegian scientists: MC KENZIE: "They studied 1130 foods available in United States markets and of those foods, not just fruits, blackberries were the number one anti-oxidant food." :09 audio file Audio 02 Cat McKenzie of the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission says antioxidants offer a wide range of health benefits by neutralizing compound molecules that attack healthy human cells. The second study shows that an extract from blackberries has very high cancer fighting potential. The health message to consumers is driving up demand for berries. To Dave Dunn, commission chair, there is also a message to Oregon growers: DUNN: "Kind of a sense of feeling proud about the fact that you are actually farming and growing something that has some value for people's lives- not just that you are putting something out on the table, but it is something that is healthy and good and fun to eat and everything else." :15 audio file Consumer and production trends show Oregon's 35-million dollar blackberry industry in a growth mode. Those in the business say it has to do with people changing their diet to include more healthy foods. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney. Additional audio: Audio 03 DUNN says aging baby boomers are more concerned about health and want to live longer. That explains some of the growing interest in blackberries: "You know, they're staring at some of the cancers and those other issues pretty much in the face. So changing there diets and habits- it's more than just cancer. There's just a ton of things in the berries that are really good for the digestive system, aging properties, and just all kinds of things. Plus, they taste good." :18 audio file Additional audio: Audio 04 MC KENZIE says one study focused on a blackberry extract of a compound called C3G. The scientists involved were so impressed with the results that they have taken out a patent on the extraction process: "It has extremely high cancer fighting potential. It now only stops tumors from growing- existing tumors, it shrinks them- it stops them from spreading." :10 audio file Full story http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/070718blackberries.shtml |
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