By Ginger Cochran, MS, RDN, CDCES
Spring has arrived, and so have some of our favorite superfoods! Berries and cherries are some of the most well-researched superfoods on the planet! These tiny delicious packages are bursting with phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber known to help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The phytonutrients in these small superfoods have been shown to prompt longevity, slow aging, and prevent neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's.
Life-enhancing phytonutrients found in berries are responsible for their rich dark red, purple, and blue colors. Plants create phytonutrients to help protect themselves from disease and environmental stressors. When we ingest them, we reap the medicinal benefits.
Research has even shown that phytonutrients can stimulate our immune system, prevent toxic substances in our environment from turning carcinogenic, reduce inflammation, prevent oxidative damage to cells, slow cancer growth, and help regulate intercellular signaling between hormones and gene expression.
Needless to say, berries and cherries have earned their spot at the table in any diet. This is why Designer Wellness has included berries in many of our products, including Immune Support Gummies, Designer Plant, Strawberry Designer Whey, Sleep Gummies., and our ready-to-go Designer Smoothie pouches.
To help you incorporate a berry-rich diet that promotes longevity and quality of life, we’re sharing our top 10 favorite ways to incorporate berries into your day.
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Try this longevity smoothie! Mix 1 cup of frozen cherries with 1 scoop of Vanilla Designer Whey, ½ cup frozen spinach (1 cup fresh spinach), and 1 cup water or flaxmilk.
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Start your day with Designer Wellness Immune Support Gummies. Our Immune Support Gummies are loaded with elderberries that are known to not only promote longevity but help support your immune system.
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Snack on one of our Designer Smoothie pouches. Our Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie is packed with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Our Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie is packed with strawberries. These little pouches make the best on-the-go protein and berry-rich snack.
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Toss melted frozen raspberries in with your plain yogurts. This trick bumps up the phytonutrient and longevity power in the snack, and the juice from the melted berries helps flavor a typically tart yogurt.
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Make protein waffles with Strawberry Designer Whey. Check for the recipe below! Our Strawberry Designer Whey. is packed with real strawberries making it another great berry addition to your day.
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Melt 70% chocolate chips and dip strawberries in them, then freeze them for a super nutritious dessert!
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Cut cherries in half with mint leaves and put them in a jug of water to make spa water that is relaxing, delicious, and enhances your water with phytonutrient power.
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Make a Peanut Butter chocolate Designer Plant smoothie with 2 scoops Designer Plant, ¼ cup cacao nibs, 2 Tbsp peanut butter, 2 bananas, and 1 cup almond milk. Our plant-based protein powder Designer Plant is king when it comes to containing longevity superfoods like berries. Designer Plant contains tart cherries, blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries. Needless to say, it's your one-stop shop when it comes to everything berry and cherry.
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Throw ⅔ cup of mashed blueberries into your oatmeal or overnight chia pudding.
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End your day with Designer Wellness Sleep Gummies. Our Sleep Gummies contain melatonin to ease your body into sleep and are flavored with elderberries to enhance the gummies' flavor and give you another phytonutrient boost before bed.
Making a diet rich in berries and cherries to promote health and longevity is rather simple with Designer Wellness products that include these superfoods like Immune Support Gummies, Designer Plant, Strawberry Designer Whey, Sleep Gummies, and our ready-to-go Designer Smoothie pouches. Our other products, like vanilla or chocolate Designer Whey, Designer Egg, Designer Soy, women’s health Aria, and Vanilla Cupcake Designer Lite, all complement the flavors of cherries or berries in any smoothie.
Plus, don’t forget to try the Strawberry Waffles recipe HERE.
Sources:
Nurses’ Health Studies I and II and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, higher intakes of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich fruits were linked with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.44
Wedick NM, Pan A, Cassidy A, et al. Dietary flavonoid intakes and risk of type 2 diabetes in US men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(4):925-933.
World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective. Washington, DC: American Institute for Cancer Research, 2007.
Hanhineva K, Torronen R, Bondia-Pons I, et al. Impact of dietary polyphenols on carbohydrate metabolism. Int J Mol Sci. 2010;11(4):1365-1402.
