Mixed Berries ! Fight Belly Fat

Berries like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries,and strawberries are nutrient-dense, and they are high in both water and fiber, which can help keep you full. What’s more, they’re naturally sweet, which will help satisfy your sweet tooth, and they are low glycemic, which will help you manage your blood sugar and insulin levels.

The health benefits of berries, with their dark pigments indicative of their rich polyphenol content, have been demonstrated in various nutrition studies. Research suggests that these nutritional powerhouses may have cardioprotective effects as well as benefits ranging from aging to metabolic syndrome.

Researchers from Texas Women’s University recently demonstrated that the polyphenols in blueberries may also play a significant role in fighting obesity. Specifically, the researchers found that these compounds inhibited the formation of fat cells.

What’s more, researchers from New Zealand found that consumption of blueberries may also accelerate muscle recovery when combined with intense exercise. Specifically, subjects who consumed a blueberry smoothie before and after exercise experienced reduced muscle soreness and accelerated recovery of strength, which all adds up to more frequent and more intense training sessions and improved performance.

Anthocyanins, the colorful antioxidant pigments that give berries their red, blue, and purple hues, are well-known for their wide-ranging health effects, including their abilities to help manage blood sugar and improve insulin signaling. Specifically, cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G), which is a member of the anthocyanin family, has been shown to attenuate insulin resistance and ameliorate high blood sugar, both of which have major implications for combatting obesity and enhancing fat loss.

What’s more, anthocyanins have been shown to have a unique effect on fat cells (i.e., adipocytes), which has led authors to state that they may play an intricate role in the prevention of metabolic syndrome. As a matter of fact, researchers investigating the effects of anthocyanins on adipocyte function concluded, “Anthocyanins have a significant potency of antiobesity and ameliorate adipocyte function” and they also have “important implications for preventing metabolic syndrome.”

From a fat loss and weight management standpoint, that sounds berry good to us!