Talk to today’s medical scientists studying the disease-prevention properties of plant foods and most would tell you that a fast-rising star is the black raspberryâone of Nature’s most powerful antioxidant fruits.
Particularly in the prevention of cancer, black raspberries are revealing remarkable effects as anti-tumor agents in laboratory research. In pursuit of this important finding, over the past six years no other fruit has had as much progress toward human clinical trials as the black raspberry.
Let’s have a look at the scientific and health foundations for the benefits of including black raspberries in your diet.
How many species of black raspberries are commonly available to the general consumer?
In Canada and the US, there are two main species called Rubus occidentalis L. and Rubus eucodermis L. Rubus (a genus of plants in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoidea). The Rubus is characterized by rose-like thorns along vines forming brambles that grow as irregular canes ranging from one to four meters in length. It is conventional to include black raspberries among other Rubus berries (red raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries) as “brambleberries” or “caneberries” that have grown native in North America since recorded time.
How is the black raspberry different from other Rubus species?
Often called “blackcaps” by berry farmers, black raspberries are the smallest and bluest of the Rubus berries. Scientific assays of blackcap phytochemicals reveal the densest and most avid pigmentation among North American plantsâso strong that the US Department of Agriculture used black raspberry juice as stamp dye on meats for several decades. Scientific tests have described blackcaps with the richest contents of pigment antioxidants among North American berries (as described further below).
Where do blackcaps grow and what markets are served?
Black raspberries grow primarily in the western US and in British Columbia. They prefer wet, mild winters and humid, warm summers and are harvested over the month of July. Oregon’s Willamette Valley, especially, is noted for black raspberries accounting for 95% of total US production or about 4 million pounds per year. Only 5% of black raspberries are sold fresh. The market for processing to provide year-round supplies of frozen (immediately quick frozen, IQF), pureed or concentrated juice products makes up the rest.
What qualities of black raspberries appeal to consumers?
The intense pigmentation qualities mentioned above derive from a rich concentration and diversity of phenolic acid antioxidants in blackcaps. Phenolics give black raspberries several distinctive taste and chemical qualities, including high acidity (pH of about 3. 5), semi-sweet taste (brix of about 10 in IQF fruit, 17 in puree) and a special tangy full-bodied taste that appeals to most people, including children. Blackcaps are very versatile regular in dessert recipes.
Over the past few years, research primarily at Ohio State University by Dr. Gary Stoner and colleagues has shown exciting â even astonishing â results of black raspberry phenolic extracts and whole berries themselves on colon and esophageal cancers in experimental animals. The focus has been on the antioxidant qualities particularly of ellagic and ferulic acids (both phenolic antioxidants) from blackcaps.
Black raspberries are one of the world’s most promising tools from plant foods in the fight against cancer. They are now entering human clinical trials supervised by Dr. Stoner.
What are oxidants and antioxidants?
Moment by moment throughout the cells of our bodies, free radicals (i. e. , oxidants or radical oxygen species) are continuously being generated by normal metabolism. Exposure to toxins in the environment, or irradiation, increases free radical production. Free radicals are unstable atoms having potential to damage cells and alter genes if not quickly neutralized.
Our bodies defend against oxidation through enzymes called dismutases, catalases, reductases and peroxidases. Also, our diet provides a host of chemicals serving antioxidant roles. These chemicals include: vitamins A, C and E; minerals like selenium, manganese and zinc; and pigments from the plant foods we eat.
In black raspberries, phenolic pigments like ellagic and ferulic acids are the major antioxidant source.
What are other pigments present in black raspberries?
The rich color of black raspberries comes from numerous chemicals of the phenolic super-family that is a class of several thousands of members serving plants as pigments. Black raspberry antioxidant strength is proportional to the intensity of the dye from its pigments.
A major subgroup of pigment phenolics is the flavonoid group that is densely populated in blackcaps. One flavonoid class in particular â anthocyanins â accounts for most of the blue-red-black pigmentation of black raspberries. In addition to anthocyanins, however, are ellagic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, rutin and cyanidin glycosides (phenolics identified by Dr. Stoner and colleagues as important anticarcinogens in blackcaps). Vitamin C, a universal antioxidant, is also well concentrated in black raspberries (about 2 mg per 100 grams of fruit), as is calcium (32 mg per 100 grams).
Is there a way to measure antioxidant quality of a plant food and how well do black raspberries perform?
Yes, a test called ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is performed on a food sample in a test tube. Then, the strength of antioxidant is measure by how well it neutralizes free radicals.
At Oregon State University, black raspberries have been tested for ORAC against other berries and plant foods (first analyzed in a 2004 ORAC report by US Department of Agriculture scientists). Black raspberries had the highest ORAC among other caneberries, fruits or vegetables analyzed measuring 3 times higher ORAC than blackberries or red raspberries.
Plants with pale skins and white pulps like pears and some apples have low ORAC whereas dark fruit like black raspberries, blueberries and cranberries have relatively high ORAC.
What does a high ORAC from black raspberries mean for health protection?
The answer to this question requires actual clinical research in humans (being performed but still preliminary) but the scientific evidence points to widespread protection against numerous diseases by having a diet rich in high-ORAC foods like black raspberries.
What are some diseases that evolve from free radicals and what can we do to counter oxidative stress?
Growing scientific evidence shows that nearly every disease involves free radicals to some extent. Cancer, heart and vascular disease, diabetes, inflammation and neurological disorders all have strong components of oxidative stress. Premature aging and diseases of the elderly such as macular degeneration are thought to result from oxidative damage to cells as well.
The laboratory studies by Dr. Stoner point to the importance of oxidative factors in colon and esophageal cancer, and to the potential protective role of phenolics from black raspberries or other antioxidant-rich plant foods.
Consumers can enjoy the pleasures of dark berries in their diets while likely gaining antioxidant protection from berry phenolics. Why wait for positive results from the years of clinical research ahead? The preliminary evidence and pleasurable eating qualities of black raspberries should be enough to warrant including these berry treasures in your diet now.
Reading
* US National Library of Medicine, PubMed, http://pubmed. gov
* Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission, http://www. oregon-berries. com
* Han C, Ding H, Casto B, Stoner GD, D’Ambrosio SM. Inhibition of the growth of premalignant and malignant human oral cell lines by extracts and components of black raspberries. Nutr Cancer. 2005;51(2):207-17.
* Casto BC, Kresty LA, Kraly CL, Pearl DK, Knobloch TJ, Schut HA, Stoner GD, Mallery SR, Weghorst CM. Chemoprevention of oral cancer by black raspberries. Anticancer Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;22(6C):4005-15.
Copyright 2006 Berry Health Inc.
Archive for December, 2009
Black Raspberries – Just The Faqs
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Low Light
Saturday, December 26th, 2009
Image taken on 2007-07-18 13:39:02 by yuan2003.
What Black Library Books Have Similar Themes To Romeo And Juliet?
Friday, December 25th, 2009Im doing an assignment on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and what I have to do is find a book with the same or similar themes, as in like a love story where the 2 are being forced apart by their peers.
So I want to a book for the Black Library, you know Warhammer stuff 
, so any book you guys can think of?
Babes & Babies: How They Influence and Impact Black Men
Friday, December 25th, 2009In the movie I Think I Love My Wife, comedian and actor Chris Rock plays a sexually deprived husband and loving father who develops a crush on an old college friend that he bumps into (played by Kerry Washington). They start hanging out and his rekindled friendship with her awakens some romantic desires which create a disruption in both his marriage and his job. When he becomes dizzy with lust and starts to lose his grip on his responsibilities at the prestigious investment firm for which he works, his boss has a heart-to-heart with him and delivers some profound advice: “You can lose a lot of money chasing women. . . but you can’t lose women chasing money. “If only young black men would take heed to this advice as they are growing up. Such focus would prevent the underdevelopment of potential and values which cause them to go astray and seek validation in other ways. Culturally, black boys (especially those who have modest or above average looks) hear how many girlfriends they are expected to have, how many hearts they are going to break, or what a “lady killer” they are going to be before they learn to tie their own shoes. With the seeds of distraction planted so early in their fertile minds, and predictions of being a future “heartbreaker,” black boys formulate subconscious achievement motives that entail the validation, edification, and prioritization of babes. The validation confirms that they do indeed appeal to the opposite sex. The edification is what allows them to elevate themselves above the male competitors in their age group; further allowing the boosting of the ego and feelings of self-worth. The prioritization is the rank of importance that they place upon the expenditure of time used in the pursuit and conquest of women. Combined, they form the roots for many of the problems that plague black families. I call it the babes and babies syndrome: black men who are driven by the pursuit of babes and shun the responsibility of taking care of their babies in the process. For many of these young boys who become young men who suffer from this syndrome, it’s hard to change their mentality. After all, if you are constantly asked how many girlfriends you have as you are growing up, it creates an unconscious expectation. Coupled with the fact that many of your peers are engaging in, and thereby endorsing the same behavior, our black teenage boys are more likely to get their player’s cards before receiving their library cards. Despite the fact that friends and family members tell them to “settle” down when they get older (now full-grown men), it takes time (and usually some drama) before they develop a sense of consciousness about their lecherous ways. It’s not that they can’t help it, they often simply don’t know how – especially after spending most of their lives as virile men whose self-worth and self-esteem is tied to the validation they receive from the sexual conquest of women. Breaking habits and changing the way we think is a tremendous challenge for all of us, but for the players of the world, it’s exceptionally difficult. It doesn’t happen simply because they feel “it’s time,” or because they feel like they’re “getting older,” it happens when the conquest of babes no longer holds the allure, power, validation, or meaning that it once did. Then, and only then, can there be a true shift in values. Some do make the successful transition from boys to men. They are the ones who either never bought into the “player’s mentality” because they were guided or focused from an early age by parents, had off-setting values, or they played the field and their conscious made them change their ways; thus avoiding the babes and babies syndrome. Those who cling to the predatory mentality of using women to build, feed, or sustain their egos well into their adulthood comprise the bulk of the perpetrators who contribute to the demise of the socioeconomic plight of today’s black families. It’s a very serious problem. How serious? SAVE AMERICA Ministries published A Portrait of the Black Family 2007: Descent into Destruction! in which the following statistics were documented:-70% of all black children are born out of wedlock. -62% of black families with children are headed by a single parent. -85% of black children do not live in a home with their fathers. -Only 15-20% of black children born today will grow up with 2 parents until age 16. -70% of African-American boys in the criminal justice system come from single-parent homes. -50% of all new AIDS cases are in the Black community which comprises only 12% of the population. -85% of all AIDS cases in Atlanta are black women. -African-Americans are 20 times more likely than whites to have gonorrhea. -AIDS is now the #1 killer of black women, age 25-44. -67% of black women with AIDS contracted HIV thru heterosexual sex. -Black men in America engage in polygamous relationships, 3 1/2 times that of White or Hispanics. -Nearly 2 million black males are either currently in a state or federal prison or have been in one. -By age 30, only 52% of black women will marry compared to 81% of white women, 77% of Hispanics and Asians. James Flynn, whose claim to fame is his much discussed “Flynn Effect” in which he documents the increase in black IQs by about 15 percent, published the following information which relates to the demise of black marriages in New Scientist. Government statistics show that at birth there are 104 black boys for every 100 girls. Between ages 25 and 45, six more men than women are dead, leaving 98 men for every 100 women. Of these 98 men, nine are in jail, eight are missing and 21 are employed less than half-time. That leaves 60 “promising” black men – men who are alive, employed and not convicted felons. Also consider that promising black men living with a non-black partner outnumber white men with a black partner by three. That leaves only 57 black men for every 100 women in a position to be a permanent partner. Out of 100 black women, 43 face the choice of either having a child by a black man who is unlikely to settle down with them or going childless – assuming they (a) want to get married, and (b) want to have children. That’s compelling information. Is it accurate? The wreckage that can be seen in fragmented black families which are headed by single mothers says that it is. Also, just witnessing the number of wayward black men who continue to celebrate their masculinity through procreation instead of through the active and full parent participation in the lives of their children, is further proof. When black men can find significance and meaning in their lives internally they are less reliant on external circumstances for an ego boost, or to fill a void. They can find pride, peace, and salvation in the sanctity of marriage, and the joy of fatherhood if they choose to attach value to it. Which brings me back to the movie I Think I Love My Wife. Once Chris Rock’s character reveals his lust to his long lost friend, they agree to have a “good-bye fling”. He arrives at her place and continues to ponder his decision to go through with it. She opens the door wearing very revealing lingerie and effectively confirms his decision to go through with it. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror with his tie on his head and is reminded of his young daughter (who he is in a previous scene with playing affectionately). It’s a moment of reckoning for him. He reassembles himself and leaves without becoming another victim of the babes and babies syndrome.
Babes & Babies: How They Influence and Impact Black Men
Friday, December 25th, 2009In the movie I Think I Love My Wife, comedian and actor Chris Rock plays a sexually deprived husband and loving father who develops a crush on an old college friend that he bumps into (played by Kerry Washington). They start hanging out and his rekindled friendship with her awakens some romantic desires which create a disruption in both his marriage and his job. When he becomes dizzy with lust and starts to lose his grip on his responsibilities at the prestigious investment firm for which he works, his boss has a heart-to-heart with him and delivers some profound advice: “You can lose a lot of money chasing women. . . but you can’t lose women chasing money. “If only young black men would take heed to this advice as they are growing up. Such focus would prevent the underdevelopment of potential and values which cause them to go astray and seek validation in other ways. Culturally, black boys (especially those who have modest or above average looks) hear how many girlfriends they are expected to have, how many hearts they are going to break, or what a “lady killer” they are going to be before they learn to tie their own shoes. With the seeds of distraction planted so early in their fertile minds, and predictions of being a future “heartbreaker,” black boys formulate subconscious achievement motives that entail the validation, edification, and prioritization of babes. The validation confirms that they do indeed appeal to the opposite sex. The edification is what allows them to elevate themselves above the male competitors in their age group; further allowing the boosting of the ego and feelings of self-worth. The prioritization is the rank of importance that they place upon the expenditure of time used in the pursuit and conquest of women. Combined, they form the roots for many of the problems that plague black families. I call it the babes and babies syndrome: black men who are driven by the pursuit of babes and shun the responsibility of taking care of their babies in the process. For many of these young boys who become young men who suffer from this syndrome, it’s hard to change their mentality. After all, if you are constantly asked how many girlfriends you have as you are growing up, it creates an unconscious expectation. Coupled with the fact that many of your peers are engaging in, and thereby endorsing the same behavior, our black teenage boys are more likely to get their player’s cards before receiving their library cards. Despite the fact that friends and family members tell them to “settle” down when they get older (now full-grown men), it takes time (and usually some drama) before they develop a sense of consciousness about their lecherous ways. It’s not that they can’t help it, they often simply don’t know how – especially after spending most of their lives as virile men whose self-worth and self-esteem is tied to the validation they receive from the sexual conquest of women. Breaking habits and changing the way we think is a tremendous challenge for all of us, but for the players of the world, it’s exceptionally difficult. It doesn’t happen simply because they feel “it’s time,” or because they feel like they’re “getting older,” it happens when the conquest of babes no longer holds the allure, power, validation, or meaning that it once did. Then, and only then, can there be a true shift in values. Some do make the successful transition from boys to men. They are the ones who either never bought into the “player’s mentality” because they were guided or focused from an early age by parents, had off-setting values, or they played the field and their conscious made them change their ways; thus avoiding the babes and babies syndrome. Those who cling to the predatory mentality of using women to build, feed, or sustain their egos well into their adulthood comprise the bulk of the perpetrators who contribute to the demise of the socioeconomic plight of today’s black families. It’s a very serious problem. How serious? SAVE AMERICA Ministries published A Portrait of the Black Family 2007: Descent into Destruction! in which the following statistics were documented:-70% of all black children are born out of wedlock. -62% of black families with children are headed by a single parent. -85% of black children do not live in a home with their fathers. -Only 15-20% of black children born today will grow up with 2 parents until age 16. -70% of African-American boys in the criminal justice system come from single-parent homes. -50% of all new AIDS cases are in the Black community which comprises only 12% of the population. -85% of all AIDS cases in Atlanta are black women. -African-Americans are 20 times more likely than whites to have gonorrhea. -AIDS is now the #1 killer of black women, age 25-44. -67% of black women with AIDS contracted HIV thru heterosexual sex. -Black men in America engage in polygamous relationships, 3 1/2 times that of White or Hispanics. -Nearly 2 million black males are either currently in a state or federal prison or have been in one. -By age 30, only 52% of black women will marry compared to 81% of white women, 77% of Hispanics and Asians. James Flynn, whose claim to fame is his much discussed “Flynn Effect” in which he documents the increase in black IQs by about 15 percent, published the following information which relates to the demise of black marriages in New Scientist. Government statistics show that at birth there are 104 black boys for every 100 girls. Between ages 25 and 45, six more men than women are dead, leaving 98 men for every 100 women. Of these 98 men, nine are in jail, eight are missing and 21 are employed less than half-time. That leaves 60 “promising” black men – men who are alive, employed and not convicted felons. Also consider that promising black men living with a non-black partner outnumber white men with a black partner by three. That leaves only 57 black men for every 100 women in a position to be a permanent partner. Out of 100 black women, 43 face the choice of either having a child by a black man who is unlikely to settle down with them or going childless – assuming they (a) want to get married, and (b) want to have children. That’s compelling information. Is it accurate? The wreckage that can be seen in fragmented black families which are headed by single mothers says that it is. Also, just witnessing the number of wayward black men who continue to celebrate their masculinity through procreation instead of through the active and full parent participation in the lives of their children, is further proof. When black men can find significance and meaning in their lives internally they are less reliant on external circumstances for an ego boost, or to fill a void. They can find pride, peace, and salvation in the sanctity of marriage, and the joy of fatherhood if they choose to attach value to it. Which brings me back to the movie I Think I Love My Wife. Once Chris Rock’s character reveals his lust to his long lost friend, they agree to have a “good-bye fling”. He arrives at her place and continues to ponder his decision to go through with it. She opens the door wearing very revealing lingerie and effectively confirms his decision to go through with it. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror with his tie on his head and is reminded of his young daughter (who he is in a previous scene with playing affectionately). It’s a moment of reckoning for him. He reassembles himself and leaves without becoming another victim of the babes and babies syndrome.
Babes & Babies: How They Influence and Impact Black Men
Friday, December 18th, 2009In the movie I Think I Love My Wife, comedian and actor Chris Rock plays a sexually deprived husband and loving father who develops a crush on an old college friend that he bumps into (played by Kerry Washington). They start hanging out and his rekindled friendship with her awakens some romantic desires which create a disruption in both his marriage and his job. When he becomes dizzy with lust and starts to lose his grip on his responsibilities at the prestigious investment firm for which he works, his boss has a heart-to-heart with him and delivers some profound advice: “You can lose a lot of money chasing women. . . but you can’t lose women chasing money. “If only young black men would take heed to this advice as they are growing up. Such focus would prevent the underdevelopment of potential and values which cause them to go astray and seek validation in other ways. Culturally, black boys (especially those who have modest or above average looks) hear how many girlfriends they are expected to have, how many hearts they are going to break, or what a “lady killer” they are going to be before they learn to tie their own shoes. With the seeds of distraction planted so early in their fertile minds, and predictions of being a future “heartbreaker,” black boys formulate subconscious achievement motives that entail the validation, edification, and prioritization of babes. The validation confirms that they do indeed appeal to the opposite sex. The edification is what allows them to elevate themselves above the male competitors in their age group; further allowing the boosting of the ego and feelings of self-worth. The prioritization is the rank of importance that they place upon the expenditure of time used in the pursuit and conquest of women. Combined, they form the roots for many of the problems that plague black families. I call it the babes and babies syndrome: black men who are driven by the pursuit of babes and shun the responsibility of taking care of their babies in the process. For many of these young boys who become young men who suffer from this syndrome, it’s hard to change their mentality. After all, if you are constantly asked how many girlfriends you have as you are growing up, it creates an unconscious expectation. Coupled with the fact that many of your peers are engaging in, and thereby endorsing the same behavior, our black teenage boys are more likely to get their player’s cards before receiving their library cards. Despite the fact that friends and family members tell them to “settle” down when they get older (now full-grown men), it takes time (and usually some drama) before they develop a sense of consciousness about their lecherous ways. It’s not that they can’t help it, they often simply don’t know how – especially after spending most of their lives as virile men whose self-worth and self-esteem is tied to the validation they receive from the sexual conquest of women. Breaking habits and changing the way we think is a tremendous challenge for all of us, but for the players of the world, it’s exceptionally difficult. It doesn’t happen simply because they feel “it’s time,” or because they feel like they’re “getting older,” it happens when the conquest of babes no longer holds the allure, power, validation, or meaning that it once did. Then, and only then, can there be a true shift in values. Some do make the successful transition from boys to men. They are the ones who either never bought into the “player’s mentality” because they were guided or focused from an early age by parents, had off-setting values, or they played the field and their conscious made them change their ways; thus avoiding the babes and babies syndrome. Those who cling to the predatory mentality of using women to build, feed, or sustain their egos well into their adulthood comprise the bulk of the perpetrators who contribute to the demise of the socioeconomic plight of today’s black families. It’s a very serious problem. How serious? SAVE AMERICA Ministries published A Portrait of the Black Family 2007: Descent into Destruction! in which the following statistics were documented:-70% of all black children are born out of wedlock. -62% of black families with children are headed by a single parent. -85% of black children do not live in a home with their fathers. -Only 15-20% of black children born today will grow up with 2 parents until age 16. -70% of African-American boys in the criminal justice system come from single-parent homes. -50% of all new AIDS cases are in the Black community which comprises only 12% of the population. -85% of all AIDS cases in Atlanta are black women. -African-Americans are 20 times more likely than whites to have gonorrhea. -AIDS is now the #1 killer of black women, age 25-44. -67% of black women with AIDS contracted HIV thru heterosexual sex. -Black men in America engage in polygamous relationships, 3 1/2 times that of White or Hispanics. -Nearly 2 million black males are either currently in a state or federal prison or have been in one. -By age 30, only 52% of black women will marry compared to 81% of white women, 77% of Hispanics and Asians. James Flynn, whose claim to fame is his much discussed “Flynn Effect” in which he documents the increase in black IQs by about 15 percent, published the following information which relates to the demise of black marriages in New Scientist. Government statistics show that at birth there are 104 black boys for every 100 girls. Between ages 25 and 45, six more men than women are dead, leaving 98 men for every 100 women. Of these 98 men, nine are in jail, eight are missing and 21 are employed less than half-time. That leaves 60 “promising” black men – men who are alive, employed and not convicted felons. Also consider that promising black men living with a non-black partner outnumber white men with a black partner by three. That leaves only 57 black men for every 100 women in a position to be a permanent partner. Out of 100 black women, 43 face the choice of either having a child by a black man who is unlikely to settle down with them or going childless – assuming they (a) want to get married, and (b) want to have children. That’s compelling information. Is it accurate? The wreckage that can be seen in fragmented black families which are headed by single mothers says that it is. Also, just witnessing the number of wayward black men who continue to celebrate their masculinity through procreation instead of through the active and full parent participation in the lives of their children, is further proof. When black men can find significance and meaning in their lives internally they are less reliant on external circumstances for an ego boost, or to fill a void. They can find pride, peace, and salvation in the sanctity of marriage, and the joy of fatherhood if they choose to attach value to it. Which brings me back to the movie I Think I Love My Wife. Once Chris Rock’s character reveals his lust to his long lost friend, they agree to have a “good-bye fling”. He arrives at her place and continues to ponder his decision to go through with it. She opens the door wearing very revealing lingerie and effectively confirms his decision to go through with it. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror with his tie on his head and is reminded of his young daughter (who he is in a previous scene with playing affectionately). It’s a moment of reckoning for him. He reassembles himself and leaves without becoming another victim of the babes and babies syndrome.
Light and Shadow
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Image taken on 2007-07-18 13:37:53 by yuan2003.