Diabetes InfoHealth

What Are Red Currants?

Healthy Living With Type 1 Diabetes What Are Red Currants?So who’s heard of red currants before? Honestly I never have but lets take a closer look at why they are so amazing! Red currants are a type of berry and are available frozen year-round and fresh during the summer months and near Christmas. They are tart, and most people don’t eat them plain, but use them to prepare jelly, wine, sauces or garnishes. Whatever you decide to do with red currants, eating them as part of a well-balanced diet offers health benefits.

Red Currants And Fiber:

With nearly 5 g of fiber per cup, red currants are a healthy food that helps you reach your daily totals, which is 21 g to 25 g for women and 30 g to 38 g for men. Fiber is a nutrient that helps to regulate your digestion and bowel function as well as treating constipation and other digestive problems. Getting enough fiber in your daily diet is also associated with keeping cholesterol levels healthy, reducing your risk of heart disease. Another perk to fulfilling the fiber requirements is appetite control. Fiber contains no calories and is digested slowly, which means that adding some red currants to your meal plan could help you feel full longer.

Vitamin C Content:

Vitamin C is important for collagen production and also boosts immune function. Collagen is a protein responsible for the strength and composition of connective tissue and skin. Red currants have a rich amount of vitamin C, with a 7/8-cup serving providing 68 percent of the recommended daily intake. Add frozen currents to a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade for a vitamin-C-packed drink.

Antioxidant Values:

Free radicals are renegade cells that break down healthy cells in the body and are responsible for raising the risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic conditions. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body. Many fruits with a red pigment, such as currants, contain an antioxidant carotenoid known as lycopene, which has links to a reduction in heart disease and cancer risk, especially prostate cancer. Mix red currants, black currants, blueberries and blackberries together in a bowl with yogurt for an antioxidant-packed snack or dessert.

Buying and storing red currants:

  • When buying redcurrants, look for those that are firm, shiny and bright. Avoid redcurrants showing signs of wilting, as these are not fresh.Healthy Living With Type 1 Diabetes What Are Red Currants?
  • Storage of red currants can be done in a container with a plastic cover and place them in the fridge. Use the redcurrants within 1 to 2 days.
  • Red currants will remain fresh even after 10 to 12 months if placed in the freezer.
  • If you are storing them, never remove the currants from their strings. Red currants will burst and lose their sugary juice when their strings are taken off.
  • To store these for a long time, the best option is to brush the berries into a pulp and simmer for 10 minutes. After straining properly, bottle the juice and keep it in the fridge for later use.

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Thanks for Reading!

Chris

Chris - The Organic Diabetic

As a type 1 diabetic, I made the switch to an organic lifestyle several years ago after being diagnosed with Diabetes in 2006. Living with diabetes is hard enough, why make it more difficult by consuming products with chemicals, toxins and other harmful, unhealthy ingredients. To me, the choice was easy and just made sense. We hope you enjoy our blog! Feel free to look around and check out all of our products by clicking through the tabs above! Thanks for stopping by and also please be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter by liking our pages below! You never know what freebies we will be giving away!! Don't forget to check out the website as well at www.theorganicdiabetic.org

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