Include it in your diet- Indian Blackberry

The fruit of Syzygium cumini- Indian Blackberry(or நாவல் பழம் in tamil) has mixture of sweet, sour and astringent taste and I always find it more delicious. Perhaps, it is because of its short-term season, during the months of June to August, I crave for this fruit more. While surfing in the internet about the properties of this particular fruit, I was fascinated by the bio-active components present in it and its inevitable health benefits.

In general naval palam is consumed by diabetic patients for its role in alleviating blood glucose levels

In addition, this berry has potential antioxidant property which fights against the oxidative stress. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals in our body has adverse effects on human health causing cancers, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

The two major compounds present in this berry - Ellagic acid/ellagitannins and anthocyanins are antioxidants and they reduce damage caused by the free radicals. Indian Blackberry is the only berry considered to have appreciable amounts of these compounds.

Having this fruit as a part of our diet,

Prevents breast cancer in women which is caused by hormonal imbalance and is a more common type of cancer in India

Inhibits carcinogen- induced tumorigenesis by preventing the DNA damage

Helps in maintaining cholesterol level at optimal range

Offers improved brain and bone health as it is rich in various vitamins and minerals and prevents age-related neurodegenerative diseases

And it is not only Indian Blackberry, every raw fruit and vegetable has its own potential health benefit and it is mandatory to include them as a part of our diet when they are available. We are living in an era where we are constantly getting exposed to various types of carcinogenic(cancer inducing) substances and getting adapted to the screen-staring lifestyle. It is unpredictable, when and for whom the body mechanism would get impaired. Concentrating on our dietary intake and to ensure that we are providing quality fuel is the only favor we could do to our body . And always remember "Prevention is better than cure".