How to Get the Most out of Frozen Berries…. Especially the Wild Ones!
To all our Wild Blueberry lovers, we recently read a great article in Zester Daily called “6 Healthy Ways to Get the Most Out of Frozen and Dried Berries.”Zester is an award-winning online destination whose mission is to promote spirited, intelligent dialogue about what we eat and drink. We wanted to share the story since it’s packed full of informative data about selecting and using frozen berries for optimum health. Independent health journalist Harriet Sugar Miller, penned the article. Miller has been a cancer survivor for two decades and she blogs about the nutrition-cancer connection at www.eatandbeatcancer.com. She’s also writing a book,“Eat and Beat Cancer: How to Create Your Own Anti-Cancer Kitchen” scheduled to launch this fall.
Miller interviews renown blueberry researcher Dr. Mary Ann Lila, director of the Plants for Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University, and heralded by Dr. Oz as a “cancer detective.” Dr. Lila offers up six invaluable tips for getting the most out of your frozen berries.
Dr. Mary Ann Lila, Director of the Plants for
Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University
For example, Dr. Lila recommends berries that are individually quick-frozen (IQF). One of the leading reasons she gives is because they retain their nutrients.
What does IQF mean? It’s a special method of freezing whereby the integrity of the fruit is preserved and their nutritional value is enhanced because they go through the process at peak harvest time. For example, in the case of Wild Blueberries, which pack a big punch in terms of taste and antioxidants, but are small and delicate, the IQF process allows the delicate berries to maintain their shape and texture through the freezing process and not “glob” into balls of ice. You could say the pinnacle of taste, beauty and nutrition have been captured and locked in by using IQF. And, fruits and vegetables that are individually quick-frozen don’t deteriorate during storage periods, something that is inevitable with fresh-sold fruit.
Below is an excerpt from the Zester article. To read it all and see more of Dr. Lila’s tips, visithere.
Fresh local berries in season are a fleeting pleasure in most regions, and until we can virtually reach through the computer screen and grab them off the bush, the choice will come down to frozen berries or imports from faraway. If they’re not kept cool enough, fresh berries shipped long distances can lose important phytonutrients. Unless you’re up for interrogating suppliers, frozen berries are likely your best option, depending on how they’re frozen and thawed.
Mary Ann Lila, director of the Plants for Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University and a berry lover, shares her thoughts on selecting berries when they’re out of season.
Dr. Oz has called Dr. Lila a “cancer detective” because she is responsible for major research breakthroughs in nutritional health especially in the field of cancer prevention. Dr. Mary Ann Lila is also a big supporter of Wild Blueberries and uses them in some of her research. For several years, Dr. Lila has been a lead presenter and participant at the Wild Blueberry Association of North America annual Health Research Summit held in Bar Harbor, Maine. This incredible event brings together scientists and researchers from around the world whose work is helping lead the way to learning more about the health benefits of Wild Blueberries. Learn more about the vast amount of research on the health benefits of Wild Blueberries here.
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