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Day 15
Blueberries & Blackberries
On some cleanse mornings, I like to wake up my mouth and mind with the refreshing taste and juiciness of darker-skinned berries. Dark berries are known to have brain-boosting qualities that are epic. On taste alone, those plump little nuggets brighten my mouth with a clean sweetness. And, with so few calories, I’m not sure there’s a reason not to eat a huge bowl at one sitting — aside from cost.
Blueberries
These intensely purple-blue mini orbs — the size and shape of some breakfast cereals — grow on long-vined bushes in our state from January through March with a harvest season in the late spring and summer, according to UC Master Gardeners. Notable vitamin and mineral content includes both C and K, plus potassium and manganese. To me, their most salient quality are their flavonoid attributes. If you didn’t know, flavonoids are fruit and veggie compounds that, of course, occur naturally. Because of blueberries high flavonoid content, one recent study by the University of East Anglia in the UK found that eating a cup of blueberries everyday “reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”
Blackberries
These juicy clustered berries when examined closely are purplish-black clumps of miniature berries grouped together to form a single fruit. Each mini-bulb of the cluster contains a seed that gives blackberries their characteristic crunch that distinguishes the fruit from many others. Blackberries are rich in many of the same nutrients as blueberries, so if you’re eating them together you’re increasing your intake of some good-for-you nutrients.
Blueberries vs. blackberries
The USDA notes that blueberries and blackberries both are nutrient-rich flavonoids, specifically, anthocyanins, which also give the fruits their dark color. Eating high flavonoid content in foods reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. However, blackberries have double the fiber content of blueberries and twice the amount of Vitamin C. And according to a Rutgers study and article, “Eat Berries to Improve Brain Function,” berries have brain-boosting qualities, including contributing to improved memory and general task-specific brain function. One of my favorite ways to unite these two powerhouses for a cleanse breakfast (and beyond) is with quinoa. Try my concoction. It’s very satisfying, cleanse or not.
Blue-and-Blackberry Breakfast Quinoa
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup blackberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds and/or chopped pecans
agave
Warm a bowl of quinoa and almond milk. Top with blueberries, blackberries, chopped almonds or pecans. Drizzle with agave. Enjoy!
Day 15 2024 – Blueberries & Blackberries
María Felicia’s 2023 New Year Body… Cleanse – Day 15
Written by Maria Felicia Kelley
Disclaimer: Maria Felicia Kelley is not a medical doctor. The cleanse and fasting benefits she discusses in this post are derived from her own experiences and observations. Individuals should consult their own healthcare providers when eliminating foods from their diets.
@thenorthcountymoms | @1MariaFelicia
The North County Moms
