General Nutrition Facts
In addition to being flavorful, colorful, and delightful, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are packed with important nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy. Berries are the tasty antioxidant solution! In fact, Driscoll's berries provide an incredible variety of health benefits that are unique among fresh fruits.
The National Cancer Institute reports that eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day can help reduce the incidents of cancer. Yet, only one out of every ten people actually achieves this goal. In reality, every additional serving of fruits and vegetables is important, which is why the Produce for Better Health Foundation and scores of nutrition and health organizations now emphasize that More Matters!
Through years of research, scientists have proven that fresh berries possess some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit, and are some of the most powerful and delicious disease-fighting food available. Foods high in antioxidants give the body its greatest protection against certain diseases like cancer and heart disease, and also protect against the effects of aging. Fresh strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry antioxidant levels top those of many other fruits and vegetables such as oranges, grapefruits, cherries, plums, brussels sprouts, broccoli and spinach.
A recent study found that raspberries have three times more antioxidants than kiwis and 10 times more antioxidants than tomatoes. The pigments that give berries their rich red to blue, black and purple colors are a type of phytochemical that has significant disease-fighting, cell-protecting antioxidant capacity. Fresh berries of all kinds are:
- Strong sources of vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and phytochemicals (or phyto-nutrients as they are sometimes called).
- Sodium-free, cholesterol-free and low in calories and fat.
- A delicious way to reach your "5 A Day" as recommended by the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the USDA. Top cereal or waffles with fresh berries, or blend them into your smoothie, and you are well on your way to reaching the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
What are antioxidants?
Our bodies need antioxidants to protect us from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The antioxidant levels in fruits and vegetables are measured through a system called Oxygen Radical Absorptive Capacity Value (or ORAC Value). The higher the ORAC Value, the more antioxidants a food has. Single servings of fresh or freshly cooked fruits and vegetables have an average 600-800 ORAC Value.
At Driscoll's we believe that nutrition is as much a part of our berries as sweet, delicious flavor. The variety, color and delightful taste of Driscoll's berries are a great way to get many important nutrients.
Strawberries
- Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C. In fact, 8 medium strawberries (1 cup) provide 93% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C. That's more Vitamin C than one medium orange!
- A one-cup serving of strawberries also provides:
45 Calories with 1g Protein and no Fat
93% of your day's supply of Vitamin C
16% of your day's supply of Fiber
20% of your day's supply of Folic Acid
4% of your day's supply of Iron
2% of your day's supply of Calcium
3,520 ORAC Value
Raspberries
- A one-cup serving of raspberries provides:
60 Calories with 1g Protein and only 1g Fat
50% of your day's supply of Vitamin C
32% of your day's supply of Fiber
6% of your day's supply of Folic Acid
4% of your day's supply of Iron
4% of your day's supply of Calcium
2,789 ORAC Value
Blueberries
- A one-cup serving of blueberries provides:
80 Calories with 1g Protein and no Fat
25% of your day's supply of Vitamin C
14% of your day's supply of Fiber
2% of your day's supply of Folic Acid
2% of your day's supply of Iron
5,486 ORAC Value
Blackberries
- A one-cup serving of blackberries provides:
60 Calories with 2g Protein and only 1g Fat
50% of your day's supply of Vitamin C
32% of your day's supply of Fiber
9% of your day's supply of Folic Acid
6% of your day's supply of Iron
4% of your day's supply of Calcium
4,654 ORAC Value