Evidence for Health Benefits of Berries

AbstractHistorically, the consumption of berries has been associated with a variety of health benefits. Many traditional or folk medicines have used berries in remedies for a range of health issues. In addition, substantial scientific evidence has accrued over the past 20 years, highlighting that components from berries have measurable beneficial effects on health. Berries are best known for their accumulation of antioxidant components (mainly associated with polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamin C) and have amongst the highest antioxidant capacity of commonly eaten foods; however, recent evidence also suggests that a wider variety of phytochemical components present in berries may also contribute towards beneficial effects on health. This article provides an overview of current scientific evidence derived from animal, human, and epidemiologic studies regarding the effects of consuming berries or important phytochemical components of berries on various neurodegenerative and non‐communicable diseases and discusses the underlying mechanisms involved.