Mulberries 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

28 Oct.,2024

 

Mulberries 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

This article reviews mulberries, including their nutrition and benefits.

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Due to their sweet flavor, impressive nutritional value, and various health benefits, mulberries are gaining popularity worldwide ( 2 ).

They carry colorful berries &#; most commonly black, white, or red &#; that are often made into wine, fruit juice, tea, jam, or canned foods, but can also be dried and eaten as a snack.

The trees are traditionally grown for their leaves &#; mainly in Asia and North America &#; as they&#;re the only food that silkworms eat ( 1 ).

Mulberries are the fruits of mulberry trees (Morus sp.) and related to figs and breadfruit.

Mulberries contain iron, vitamin C, and compounds. Eating them may help reduce cholesterol, blood sugar, and cancer risk. They have been used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat different ailments, but the evidence is limited.

Fresh mulberries have about 10% carbs in the form of simple sugars, starch, and soluble and insoluble fibers. They&#;re fairly high in water and low in calories.

Fibers help you maintain a healthy digestive system, decrease cholesterol levels, and reduce your risk of many diseases ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ).

The fibers are both soluble (25%) in the form of pectin and insoluble (75%) in the form of lignin ( 1 , 4 ).

Mulberries have a decent amount of fiber , corresponding to 1.7% of their fresh weight.

These carbs are mostly simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose, but also contain some starch and fiber.

Fresh mulberries consist of 9.8% carbs , or 14 grams per cup (140 grams).

Here are the main nutrients in a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of fresh mulberries ( 3 ):

Mulberries are often consumed dried, similar to raisins. In this form, they contain 70% carbs, 14% fiber, 12% protein, and 3% fat &#; making them fairly high in protein compared to most berries.

By fresh weight, they provide 9.8% carbs, 1.7% fiber, 1.4% protein, and 0.4% fat.

Fresh mulberries consist of 88% water and only have 60 calories per cup (140 grams).

Mulberries contain high amounts of both iron and vitamin C, as well as decent amounts of potassium and vitamins E and K.

Mulberries are rich in many vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and iron:

Mulberries contain several plant compounds, such as anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and myricetin. Deep-colored and mature berries are richer in these compounds than colorless berries.

Deep-colored and mature mulberries are richer in plant compounds and have a higher antioxidant capacity than colorless and immature berries ( 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ).

The amounts of plant compounds in mulberries depends on the variety. This results in different colors and antioxidant properties ( 27 ).

The most abundant ones include:

Mulberries are rich in plant compounds, such as anthocyanins, that contribute to their color and beneficial health effects ( 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ).

Mulberries or mulberry extracts may be beneficial against several chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer (32).

Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is an important fatty molecule present in every cell of your body. However, elevated blood cholesterol levels are linked to increased heart disease risk.

Animal studies show that mulberries and mulberry extracts can reduce excess fat and lower cholesterol levels. They may also improve the ratio between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol (20, 33).

For more mulberry fruit powder-china top nutritional supplierinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Additionally, some test-tube experiments suggest that they reduce the formation of fat in the liver &#; potentially helping prevent fatty liver disease (34, 35, 36, 37).

Improve Blood Sugar Control

People with type 2 diabetes are at risk of a rapid rise in blood sugar and need to be careful when they eat carbs.

Mulberries contain the compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which inhibits an enzyme in your gut that breaks down carbs.

Therefore, mulberries may be beneficial against diabetes by slowing down the increase in blood sugar after meals. Studies in people are needed before any firm conclusions can be reached (38, 39, 40).

Reduce Cancer Risk

Increased stress in your body has been shown to induce oxidative damage in cells and tissues, which is associated with increased cancer risk (41, 42).

For hundreds of years, mulberries have been part of traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy against cancer.

Some researchers now believe that these reputed cancer-preventive effects may have a scientific basis (43).

Animal studies indicate that antioxidants in mulberry juice can decrease oxidative stress &#;potentially reducing cancer risk (4, 44).

Keep in mind that the same applies to fruits and vegetables in general. No evidence suggests that mulberries reduce cancer risk more than other fruits or berries.

SUMMARY

Mulberries may lower cholesterol levels, help prevent fatty liver disease, and improve blood sugar control. They also decrease oxidative stress, which may reduce cancer risk.

Mulberry Leaf Powder

Rich, creamy and sweet micronized Mulberry leaves to make a CAFFEINE-FREE Matcha style drink.

Calling this drink a 'Matcha alternative' is doing it a bit of a disservice. It is a delicious tisane in itself which can be used in exactly the same way as Matcha - to make Usucha, Koicha or be blended with milk to make a Latte. It is caffeine-free so it is the perfect substitute to Matcha for your early morning or evening drink.

We tried about a dozen different Mulberry leaves from China and Japan and there is a huge variety in taste and texture. This Mulberry was produced in Japan and is a huge step above the majority of Mulberry powder which you may find on the market.

The producer uses the 'Ichinose Mulberry' leaves grown without pesticides using natural farming techniques which is much higher in labour but producers the purest  and most nutritious Mulberry. This is then ground to a micro-fine powder at low temperatures to maintain its vibrancy and phytochemicals.

Mulberry leaves have a long history of use in Chinese, Japanese and other traditional medicines. In China it is used as a herb for cooling and clearing heat (especially from the Lungs and Liver Zang Fu Organs). It is commonly used in formulations to help reduce stress, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, blurry vision and resolve dry coughs.

Mulberry leaves contain many phytonutrients which are in tea - GABA, quercetin, Rutin amongst others. It also contains compounds not found in tea like Resveratrol.

Studies have shown a huge potential for the medical use of Mulberry leaves. A lot of attention is being placed on Mulberry leaves ability to control blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. Studies are also showing promising results in the maintenance of good heart health, the treatment of hypertension and a whole host of other areas such as neurological protection, anti-cancer, anti-nflammation, anti-microbial, digestive health and skincare. Please read this summary study to dive deeper.

The extent of their healthful effects requires further study but there is no doubt that Mulberry leaves are medicinal and have been safely consumed for millennia. By consuming the actual leaves (rather than brewing as an infusion), the beneficial effects of Mulberry are going to be maximized just like in Matcha.

Directions

For Mulberry Usucha, we recommend using a teaspoon (or 2 Chashaku scoops) placed in a bowl or Chawan for 60-70ml of cold or warm water (between 70 and 80 degrees). First, make a paste with a splash of warm water (between 70 and 80 degrees or 160-175F) with a Chasen whisk and then 50-60ml of warm water and whisk vigorously in a 'W' motion to make a smooth and slightly frothy drink. Slurp and enjoy.

For Koicha (a much thicker and intense drink) you would use double the amount of Mulberry (2tsp or 4x Chashaku Scoops) with about 50ml of water and whisk slowly to make a smooth drink without froth.

Mulberry leaf powder can also be used in Lattes (make a Koicha and then add steamed milk), iced drinks or for culinary use (Mulberry Ice Cream anyone?).

 

 

For more information, please visit apple fruit powder suppliers.