What Are Some of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet

Berries are some of the healthiest foods on the planet. For centuries, aboriginal peoples all over the world have relied on them as both food and medicine, and even today people who live close to nature eat an impressive selection of wild berries for their great taste and health benefits. 

Blueberries

The blueberry deserves its reputation as the 'superberry' because of its high levels of powerful antioxidants and tannis, which can help to protect the body's cells by neutralizing free radicals in the bloodstream. 

In a comparison of 25 common fruits, blueberries had among the highest antioxidant capacity, and several studies have suggested that they may be capable of inhibiting cancer cell development and dampening inflammation. 

Eating blueberries on a regular basis has been found to increase memory and learning ability in older adults. 

Blueberries also offer cardiovascular benefits - they were found to improve the function of the endothelial cells that line blood vessels in one clinical trial of patients with the metabolic syndrome, and animal studies suggest they may also lower blood cholesterol levels. 

The tonic and antibacterial properties of blueberries are most marked in the dried berries, which can be used as a simple and effective treatment for diarrhoea. 

Blueberries may also improve night vision and eyesight, as well as ease tired eyes, as they are rich in sight - supporting antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins. 

Rose hips 

Rose hips are full of seeds, and although we think of them as berries, they are more properly defined as fleshy pseudofruits. Valued as a source of nutrition and medicine for centuries, wild rose hips are easy to find and can be cooked to make delicious syrups, jellies and jams, or infused as a refreshing herbal tea -- but always filter to eliminate any seed hair. 

Rose hip juice is claimed to have 20 times more vitan C than orange juice and is highly regarded as a tonic. Eaten raw, rose hips have an intense apple - like flavour, and they are excellent served as a snack or in salads , or can be baked in breads. The name "dog rose" is thought to refer to the plant's use in past centuries to treat bites from rabid dogs. Rose hips also have a long tradition of being taken to relieve respiratory and digestive conditions. 

Today, rose hips are thought to help improve immunity to infections, boost energy levels, maintain the health of mucous membranes, enhance wound healing and help prevent heart disease and the development of cancer cells. 

Recent studies show that rose hips may also be useful in the treatment of arthritis, helping to relieve pain from sore and inflamed joints. 

Taking rose hips regularly has been shown to lower systolic blood pressure and "bad" cholesterol levels in obese people, which could significantly reduce their cardiovascular risk.