     
BENEFITS OF BLACK
CURRANT
Black currant tea is one of the oldest of old-fashioned
remedies for sore throats and colds.
It is made by pouring half a pint of boiling water on to a
large tablespoonful of the jelly or jam. To make the jelly use
the same recipe as for blackberry jelly.
The fresh juice pressed from the fruit is, of course, better
than tea made from the jelly, but as winter is the season of
coughs and colds the fruit is least obtainable when most
needed.
Black currants are known for having a high content of
antioxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
They contain phytonutrients that promote better health.
Black currants became popular specifically for its high vitamin
C, potassium and GLA content. Vitamin C is a well known
antioxidant that helps prevent degenerative diseases like
cataracts and cardiovascular diseases while potassium helps
maintain blood pressure, muscle function, and fluid balance in
the body. GLA or Gamma-Linoleic Acid is an omega-6 essential
fatty acid that promotes skin and hair growth, maintains
healthy bones, and regulates your metabolism.
A compound naturally found in berries, anthocyanins, can be
found in black currants. This is the compound responsible for
the pigment of the fruit and it is a very powerful
antioxidants.
Anthocyanins work by inhibiting enzymes called cyclo-oxygenase
1 and 2, and reducing inflammation (like in the case of
arthritis) in the body. It can be compared to the action of
anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen but the difference is
the lack of side effects so more people actually prefer the use
of black currant juice over the use of drugs.
Anthocyanins can be quite sensitive to light and heat that is
why it is processed meticulously to ensure that the nutritional
properties of black currants are not lost.
Aside from anthocyanins, black currant fruit juice also
contains proanthocyanidins and cassis polysaccharide (CAPS)
that has the ability to stimulate macrophage activity. CAPS has
a high interleukin (IL)-1beta-inducing activity compared to
other juices and is composed of galactose, mannose, rhamnose,
xylose, glucose, and arabinose. CAPS is proven to act as a
toxin against tumor cells and further studies are being made to
establish whether blackcurrants have anti-cancer properties as
well.
The seed oil of blackcurrant actually has 18:2n6 linoleic
(47%), 18:3n6 gamma-linoleic (12%), 18:3n3 alpha-linoleic acid
(14%), and 18:4n3 stearodonic acid (2.7%). Both gamma- and
alpha-linoleic are essential fatty acids which our body is not
capable of producing on its own. In addition, gamma-linoleic
acid is rare in other natural sources.
In summary, blackcurrants can have numerous benefits for
your health, among these are:
• Anti-Inflammatory Property
• Potent Antioxidant Action
• May help prevent cancer
• Valuable in reducing symptoms of athritis
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