Adding berries to your diet is more beneficial then you may think? For starters everyone loves fruit, therefore eating berries more often should be enjoyable. Berries are not just tasty, but they contain two very important nutrients that are sometimes over looked; fiber and antioxidants.

Adults should eat 22-38 grams of fiber each day. Using this fiber calculator you can learn  your individual needs. Fiber can help you to lose weight because it makes you feel fuller soon. Other health benefits of eating fiber include…

• Reducing the risk of diseases such as diverticulosis, diabetes, heart disease, and colon and laryngeal cancers
• Preventing constipation and digestive diseases.

How much fiber do berries contain (per 1 cup sliced)?

• Strawberries: 3 grams
• Raspberries: 8 grams
• Blueberries: 4 grams

So what’s the deal with antioxidants? I found this good description explaining the benefits of antioxidants:

The research continues to grow regarding the knowledge of antioxidants as healthful components of food. Oxidation, or the loss of an electron, can sometimes produce reactive substances known as free radicals that can cause oxidative stress or damage to the cells. Antioxidants, by their very nature, are capable of stabilizing free radicals before they can react and cause harm, in much the same way that a buffer stabilizes an acid to maintain a normal pH. Because oxidation is a naturally occurring process within the body, a balance with antioxidants must exist to maintain health. SOURCE

Also, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are low in calorie so don’t be afraid to over eat them. It’s more likely that the berries will fill you up before you can eat too many of them. Enjoy your berries with whole grain cereal for breakfast, granola for a snack, or with low fat cool whip for dessert.