Berries: amazingly delicious, powerful super food

These delicious fruit snacks are in season late in the spring in most of the US They're nature's little miracle: sweet bursts of flavor that have some powerful health benefits. Did you know? Berries rank pretty low on the glycemic index so you can eat them without worrying about spiking your blood sugar. Blueberries Super high in antioxidants, blueberries are an easy snack to grab on the go or to throw into smoothies. When not in season, it's perfectly fine to grab a bag of frozen organic berries and use those instead. Many studies support the idea that blueberries even improve memory. Raspberries High in vitamin C, manganese and fiber, one cup of these delicate berries will do your body some serious good. It is one of the highest-ranking foods in terms of antioxidants and also has antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic properties. Eat raspberries alone, stirred in yogurt, mixed into a smoothie or placed atop a salad. Strawberries Did you know just one cup of these red beauties gives you 140 percent of the vitamin C you need in a day? Wow! But that's not all: These berries are super high in antioxidants and phytonutrients, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Strawberries can also help lower blood sugar spikes so if you have a sweet tooth and must have a little sugar, sprinkle a dusting on strawberries to get the counteracting benefits of the berries to the sugar in your bloodstream. Cranberries Cranberries in their whole food form have incredible properties. We're not talking about the canned stuff or even juice, but whole cranberries. They're delicious tossed in salads, smoothies or turned into whole-berry sauce. They can help prevent internal infections, such as ulcers or urinary tract infections by grabbing bacteria and carrying it away. Cranberries are also believed to have many cancer-fighting benefits. Try them! Grapes Buying organic grapes is highly encouraged given the widespread use of chemicals on conventional grape crops. Once you get the good stuff, a grape is hugely beneficial. No matter the type of grape, these babies are packed with benefits. They have antioxidants, antimicrobial cancer-fighting nutrients and may help improve memory and aging. Grapes are delicious on their own, with cheese, in salads or frozen for a refreshing snack to pop in your mouth on a hot summer day. Blackberries Blackberries have loads of fiber — eight grams in one cup! They are also high in vitamin C and folates. Believe it or not, the seeds eaten as part of the blackberry are high in omega-3s