6 Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Blackcurrant

Blackcurrant is the fruit berries that grows on the woody shrub of the same name. It belongs to Grossulariaceae family and is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia. Blackcurrant is a good source of a number of nutrients like vitamins,minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, Omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibers etc. and presence of these compounds make them very beneficial for our health. In this article, we will know about the major health benefits of blackcurrant.

# Keeps Our Cardiovascular System Healthy

Eating blackcurrant on a regular and moderate basis is very beneficial for our heart as it helps in keeping our heart healthy and reduces the risk of various cardiovascular problems like heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat etc. This benefit of blackcurrant is mainly due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds like flavonoids in them.

In addition to this, they are also a rich source of antioxidants that prevents the inner walls of our arteries from oxidative damage and also minimizes the formation of toxic substances on the interior walls of blood vessels. This helps in the smoother flow of blood through our cardiovascular system and thus keeps it healthy.

# Helps In Controlling High Blood Pressure

Blackcurrant is very beneficial for the individuals who are struggling with high blood pressure. Regular and moderate consumption of blackcurrant is very beneficial for reducing the risk of high blood pressure or hypertension because of the presence of potassium in it. Potassium is a natural vasodilator which relaxes our blood vessels and ensures smooth flow of blood and thus helps in regulating blood pressure.

In addition to the blood pressure regulation, blackcurrant also helps in reducing the risk of heart attack and/or stroke. As per a French study, it was found that GLA present in blackcurrant slow down the platelets clumping in our blood vessels.

# Is A Rich Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Blackcurrants are also a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and presence of Omega-3 makes them very beneficial for regulating cholesterol level in our body. Eating blackcurrant on a regular and moderate basis lowers LDL cholesterol level ( aka LDL cholesterol) and at the same time, boosts good cholesterol level ( aka HDL cholesterol). Too much LDL cholesterol is bad for our health as it gets deposited within the arteries and blood vessels block them and thus increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, irregular heartbeat etc.

By regulating cholesterol level, blackcurrant not only protects us from the various cardiovascular problem but also helps in regulating blood pressure, which is a major health problem that affects millions of people all over the world.

# Provides Anticarcinogenic Benefits

Blackcurrants are anti-carcinogenic in nature which means they reduce the risk of development of cancer in our body. This benefit of blackcurrant is mainly due to the presence of antioxidants like Vitamin C, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin etc. in them.

These antioxidants and antioxidantal compounds fight with the free radicals of our body, stabilizes them and thus prevents them from causing oxidative damage to our body cells and thus reduces the risk of cancer. Free radicals are nothing but the unstabilized ions that get formed mainly during the oxidation process in our body. As they are unstabilized, so they steal electrons from the molecules of our body cells, and while doing so they cause oxidative damage to them.

# Helps In Fighting Infections

Another important health benefit of blackcurrant is their ability to make our immune system stronger and build a resistance against infections. This benefit of blackcurrant is mainly due to the presence of vitamin C in it. One cup of blackcurrant provides around 338 percent of the daily vitamin C requirements. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that fights with the free radicals of our body, stabilizes them and thus prevents them from causing oxidative damage to our body cells ( including the immune system).

By making our immune system stronger, blackcurrants make us less vulnerable to cold, fever and infections.

# Provides Antibacterial Benefits

Regular and moderate consumption of blackcurrant is also beneficial for reducing the risk of bacterial infections like Urinary tract infection and other infections. This antibacterial nature of blackcurrant is mainly due to the presence of chemical compounds like tannin and anthocyanin in them. These compounds hinder the growth of bacteria within the urinary tract and thus reduces the infection risk.