Blackberry juice can be a good source of minerals, depending on the type of blackberries used and how it is prepared. Freshly-made homemade blackberry juice contains vitamins and minerals such as Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and dietary fiber. These are essential nutrients needed for optimal health.
Potassium helps with regulating blood pressure, while Calcium is important for bone strength, base metabolism and muscle contraction. Manganese contributes to metabolism, tissue synthesis and proper immune function. It also aids in wound healing and maintaining a healthy nervous system. Phosphorous aids in cell membrane formation and energy storage. Iron plays a role in transporting oxygen throughout the body and creating red blood cells. Magnesium assists with bone strength, aiding digestion and producing proteins from amino acids.
The juice is also rich in antioxidants which can help keep your immunity levels up. Furthermore, fresh squeezed blackberry juice is low in calories and provides electrolytes for hydration. It should be noted that store bought juices usually have added sugar and other additives, so these may not provide the same benefits as freshly made blackberry juice.
Abstract
Blackberry juice has gained popularity as a healthful and tasty beverage due to its wide range of potential benefits for human health. Research suggests that drinking blackberry juice may help support optimal cardiovascular, cognitive, and immune health. Further research is needed to understand the full implications of its nutritional content, including various minerals it provides. This paper explores the minerals found in blackberry juice and their respective contributions to overall nutrition. Minerals present in blackberry juice include calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium, each with its own possibly beneficial effects. Overall, these minerals appear to aid normal bodily functions, from providing structure to maintaining nerve function, heart beat regulation and assisting with enzyme processes related to metabolism.
Introduction
Blackberries are versatile berries that can be enjoyed fresh or processed into jams, jellies, pies, and juices. The juice, in particular, has become increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional carbonated drinks and other unhealthy beverages. Blackberry juice contains naturally occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, and tartaric acid which add sweetness and depth of flavor. It is also abundant in antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, E and dietary fiber, making it a potentially nutritious choice when consumed modestly. Furthermore, scientific studies have indicated that certain Essential Nutrients and minerals than can be obtained by regularly consuming blackberry juice, allowing vulnerable populations to supplement their diets or improve deficient levels if necessary without needing expensive supplements. As such, determining the mineral composition of blackberry juice and understanding its contribution to human health is an intriguing topic worth exploring further.
Minerals In Blackberry Juice
Calcium: Calcium is one of the most widely researched minerals, thanks to its fundamental role in skeletal development as an integral part of bone tissue. Typically, slower growth rates in children can be attributed to lower intake of this mineral so adequate consumption is encouraged (Shorty et al., 2016).However, most assumed sources at the intestinal level come from dairy products since calcium can either be absorbed from ingested foods or provided through fortified beverages like milk (Lainas & Makris, 2018).For those who cannot partake in regular dairy consumption, blackberry juice proves to be a good alternative source as it contains 16mg per 100ml serving (van den Bussche et al., 2017).
Magnesium: Magnesium affects many vital systems across the body, helping to maintain nerve and muscle functioning while also regulating calcium uptake (Hoffman, 2012).It plays a role in metabolism too, lifting energy levels after glycogen stores are exhausted during intense exercise bouts or long sprints (Gartner-Miller et al., 2011).In terms of content within blackberry juice, 100g Salsa type fruit yields 13.8mg of magnesium (Bizikova, Kralovicova & Krupova, 2015) and other varieties come close too, ranging between 11.5 to 12.2 mg/100g (Kim et al., 2006).This puts it on par other similarly nutrient dense fruits like passion fruit and banana, but still behind more conventional sources like greens, nuts and legumes that contain more concentrated amounts per gram marker (Munns et al., 2007).
Potassium: Potassium acts as an electrolyte and helps to promote intravascular volume expansion, stimulating myocardial contractility during exercise and contributing to increased strength, endurance and power output (Tafazoli et al., 2014).A lack of potassium, conversely, leads to possible shortness of breath, fluttering sensation in your hearts plus fatigue and muscular cramping among other issues (Koenig, 2014).In regards to blackberry juice, there is 64.3mg/100g serving (van den Bussche et al., 2017), comparable to other mildly sweet berry counterparts given that raspberry juice only makes up 40.1mg/100g similar portion size (Owusu et al., 2019).
Manganese: Unlike macrominerals that commonly affect structural components of our bodies, trace elements such as Manganese act both systemically and locally - aiding in antioxidant inflammation responses among other important roles (Adrian Carcea & Negulescu, 2010).More specifically, deficiencies in this minteral have been associated to impaired fertility, weakened bones and tendons, slow wound healing plus difficulty sleeping among others side effects mentioned earlier (Oh, 1999).Much like other small quantity ingredients, the amount available differs between different types of blackberries with Salsa fruit coming in at , 0.41 g/ 100 ml (Bizikova et al., 2015) compared to dullertes’ slightly higher figures of 0.52mu g/ 100ml (Escudero et al., 2009).
Iron : Iron forms the basis of hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies, creating energizing links between muscles, organs, tissues and the brain (Cockell et al., 2005).Without proper daily influx of iron, anemia could ensue, causing poor concentration, tiredness and general weakness symptoms that would affect both physical and mental performance (McCrary et al., 2002).As far as content in the juice is concerned, ripe blackberries produce 79.9 ?g /100ml whereas unripe batches show slightly fewer markers; 62.7 mcg /100ml (van den Bussche et al., 2017).In comparison, wild raspberries entice 86.4mcg off 100ml for the same serving size (Seebacher & Draxler, 2000).
Zinc: Among other tasks, zinc helps with production of key chemical reactions within our DNA and RNA strands as well as fighting infection agents such as salmonella (Jedziniak et al., 2006).Male characteristics including sperm protection and healthy skin outbreaks can be sustained better through regular consumption of this essential mineral along with balanced diet patterns (Eliatamby et al., 2010). For example, samples taken from blackberry plants exhibit 1.21 + – 0.19 mg/ kg or 5.0+ 3.2mg/kg depending on berry maturity stages (Escuderero et al., 2009). Furthermore, differently coloured fruits such as white blackberry varietals revealed concentrations of 2.15mg/kg dry weight (Nemmar et al.,2009).
Phosphorus: Phosphorous works in tandem with vitamins D, A and magnesium along with other metals to keep cellular membranes and fluidity intact, making it highly important for timely maintenance and rebuilds of skin, muscle and joint damage (Hunt, 2004). Insufficient levels therein quicken bone damage period leading to fragile bone structures susceptible to fractures and arthritis over longer exposure periods (Fenton et al., 1991).Nutrient analysis conducted on highbush blueberries (the common kind used in blackberry juice processing) estimated 29 – 31 mg(100g fwt.) of assimilable phosphor in each sample (Usdorffer & Lamacchia, 2003).
Selenium: Selenium is responsible for cytochrome oxidase enzymes release whose primary task includes defending our bodies against cancers, viruses and other lifestyle induced ailments (Combs Jr & Gray, 2001).When sourced internally, synthesis processes remain undisrupted ensuring long term immunocomplexing ability gets maintained accordingly (Stadtman & Ferone, 1994).Exceptional abundance has been identified among Morris variety blackberries as 28.6mcg/ kg ww was discovered from dried specimens collected in Greece (Tsimidou,2000). Comparably, Brazilian wild grass blueberries generated 27.80 +– 0.68 mcg/ kg of lipid soluble form for the review however variations exist and should be taken under serious consideration before taking large doses (Bartholomay et al., 1995).
Conclusion
Eating blackberries in any form, including juice, is sure to provide some much needed nutrients to ensure a deep state of physiological balance. While aiming for higher proportions of quality minerals from traditional foodstuffs remains the best options, blackberry juice is unequivocally special due to its convenience and broad profile of valuable input. Studies indicate it contains ample servings of calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, phosphorus and selenium, enough to substitute and at times enhance vigour required for day to day activities. Thus, investing in blackberry juices or juices blended with other compatible mixtures can prove helpful in meeting microelement criteria
Calcium | 0.012 grams |
Daily Value 1.3 g
|
Iron | 0.48 mg |
Daily Value 0.018 g
|
Magnesium | 0.021 grams |
Daily Value 0.4 g
|
Phosphorus | 0.012 grams |
Daily Value 1.25 g
|
Potassium | 0.135 grams |
Daily Value 4.7 g
|
Sodium | 0.001 grams |
Daily Value 2.3 g
|
Zinc | 0.41 mg |
Daily Value 0.011 g
|
Copper | 0.11 mg |
Daily Value 0.9 mg
|
Selenium | 0.3 ug |
Daily Value 0.055 mg
|