Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Urticales
Family: Moraceae
Tribe: Moreae
Genus: Morus L.
Species: Morus Alba L.
Popular Name(s): White Mulverry,
White Mulberry, Silk Worm Mulberry and Sang Zhi
Parts Used: Bark, leaves and roots
Habitat: Native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and North America, with the majority of the species native to Asia.
These fruits, right, are very rich in iron, vital for maintaining a healthy count of red blood cells and preventing anaemia – a rare feature among berries.
They are also a good source of Vitamin C and have high levels of resveratrol, an antioxidant also found in red wine that is thought to ‘clean up’ pollutants in the body. Studies on rats found that resveratrol was effective against tumours of the skin, breast, lung and prostate.
Most of us have never heard of mulberry which is sad,because the health benefit of consuming the fruit are numerous. Even I wasn't aware of this until I moved to my new house near Southern park Klang. One fine day i was walking with pet dog behind my house on a vacant land and I saw 2 mullberry trees full of fruits dangling. In fact, many trees were found around Southern Park, Palm Grove and Taman Chi Liung.
When you are healthy,eating mulberry can prevent liver cancer , cure hypertension, relieve constipation, treat abdominal distention and strengthen your liver and kidney. Just eating a small amount of mulberries every single day will improve your appetite and make it easier to digest food.
Reverse the Effects of Alcohol
Health benefits of mulberries
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- Delicious, fleshy, succulent mulberries are low in calories (just 43 cal per 100 g); but are rich source of many health promoting plant derived compounds, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.
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* Mulberries have significantly high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals called anthocyanins. Scientific studies have shown that consumption of berries have potential health effects against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and bacterial infections
- The berries contain resveratrol, another polyphenol flavonoid antioxidant. Resveratrol has been found to be protective against stroke risk by alteration of molecular mechanisms in blood vessels, reducing susceptibility to vascular damage through decreased activity of angiotensin (a systemic hormone causing blood vessel constriction that would elevate blood pressure) and increased production of the vasodilator hormone, nitric oxide.
- In addition, these berries are an excellent source of vitamin-C (36.4 mcg per 100, about 61% of RDI), which is also a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents, counter inflammation and scavenge harmful free radicals.
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| Potential health effects against cancer |
- They also contain good amount vitamin A, vitamin E and in addition to the above mentioned antioxidants also contain many other health promoting flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-carotene and α-carotene in small but notably significant amounts. These compounds help act as protect from harmful effects of oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease process.
- Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions in the retina of eyes.
- Mulberries are excellent source of iron, which is a rare feature among berries, contains 1.85 mg/100 g of fruits (about 23% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
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They also good source of minerals like potassium, manganese, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
- They are rich in B-complex group of vitamins and vitamin K. Contain very good amounts of vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid. These vitamins are function as co-factors and help body in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Here are some serving tips:
- Fresh mulberry are generally eaten as they are without any additions.
- They mix well with other berry salads.
- They can be a great snack between meals.
- Mulberries are favored in jams, jellies, tart syrups etc.
- Dried mulberries can be used in pie fillings, mulberry muffins, cookies, cakes etc.
- They are used in ice-creams, smoothies and yogurt.
Mulberry Juice Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cup mulberry fruits, rinsed
- sugar according to your taste
Preparation:
- Use a blender to blend the mulberries for the juice. Strain to get the juice. Discard the skins and seeds.
- Place the tendered mulberries in a sieve, strain and press with a fork to extract the juice. Filter the juice to remove seeds and skins.
- Add the sugar and stir until dissolves. Add some ice cubes to chill if you wish.
CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
* In Chinese traditional medicine, mulberries are seen as an important blood tonic as they are able to cleanse the blood and at the same time, promote the production of red blood cells.
AYURDEDIC MEDICINE
Mulberry juice helps in relieving constipation in elderly people.
Mulberry Fruit Side Effects
There is very little research conducted to determine the side effects of mulberries.
KNOWN FACTS
The white mulberry tree is native to China and was instrumental in the silk-producing industry because mulberry leaves were the sole food source for silk worms.
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