Maqui berries are one of the newest superfoods, a vividly purple fruit that grows wild throughout southern Chile, across hillsides and fields as well as the borders of forested areas.
There are so many of the berries growing wild that cultivation isn’t necessary—the people who harvest the berries that are sold commercially are the Mapuche Indians, indigenous to Chile.
This fruit is not only delicious, it is packed with some of the most protective compounds of any superfruit on the market today, including blueberries, blackberries, acai, raspberries and elderberries.
The Mapuche are known as fierce warriors and one of the few tribes that were never conquered in the Americas. Perhaps it has something to do with the maqui berries being a large part of their diet. It’s been used for hundreds of years for treating a variety of health conditions from sore throats to digestive ailments, fever and tumors.
The berries are extremely rich in anthocyanins, purple pigments that contain high antioxidant qualities linked to lowered blood pressure, better cardiovascular health and helping to protect against diabetes.
They also contain a high amount of delphinidins, which demonstrate powerful anti-inflammatory activity, helping to decrease the risk of a wide range of degenerative diseases that involve inflammation, including Alzheimer’s, arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis and more. The pigments also inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.
Inflammation is part of virtually every degenerative disease, including all conditions that end with “itis” which literally means “inflammation.” According to the the Organic Authority, the powerful anti-inflammatory properties of this fruit work as well as a drug with the same purpose, without harmful side effects. These compounds also help to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the blood, which is a factor in developing cardiovascular disease.
Consuming maqui berries or their juice has been found to result in a significant increase of insulin in the body—it even appears to do this better than any other known plant. This means that eating maqui berries or their juice with or after meals can help to suppress blood glucose, which helps to stabilize energy levels and prevent the formation of new fat cells. It may even prove to be a beneficial aid for weight control.
If you can’t make it down to southern Chile to enjoy fresh maqui berries, the fruit can be found in various forms, including powders, capsules and juices.
Make a fabulous, nutritious smoothie by adding a teaspoon of maqui powder with a frozen organic banana, a handful of frozen organic blueberries, another handful of frozen organic strawberries and a cup of coconut water in a blender. Choose certified organic freeze-dried maqui berry for optimal benefits.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.udea.edu.co/portal/page/portal/bActualidad/Principal_UdeA/news2/science/D7D70A9C4D9C420DE04018C8341F70AD
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/secret-superfoods-maqui-berries.html
