"berries" news and stories

Scientists have given you another reason to ramp up your berry consumption.

Strawberries, blueberries and berries of pretty much any stripe have long been credited with a host of health benefits, from reducing the risk for certain types of cancer to sharpening our vision. Now, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say that eating more berries can also lower your chances of developing Parkinson's disease.

The recent study tracked nearly fifty thousand men and eighty thousand women for more than 20 years, and examined participants' intake of flavonoids, which are found in higher concentrations in berries, as well as in tea, red wine and citrus fruits. The results opened a new door to preventing Parkinson's.

Get the whole story at AOL Health.

Pick your own or just take your pick at the market; it's all about berries right now. Beginning today, we're going to do a four-day run of berry desserts that we found around the blogosphere, and that beckon us to hit the berry patch.

Ricotta cream (a simple mixture of ricotta cheese, a couple tablespoons of honey, and a dash of vanilla extract blended in a food processor) makes a sweet pillow for inky blackberries. The balsamic vinegar and sugar syrup drizzled over the top is a nice spike of flavor, but the berries (strawberries, blueberries, whatever you choose) will survive very well without it. Either way, it's a great riff on berries and cream. See a recipe for this dish here.

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It's a shake, it's a smoothie, it's a berry breakfast bomb -- these cold combos of fruit, milk, yogurt (and sometimes citrus) are perfect first thing in the morning or last thing at night, made with fresh fruit on a steaming July day or made with frozen berries in the depths of December. So dust off the blenders, kids, and pulse till you drop.

Blogger terriseesthings found her berry bliss with this recipe, which includes instant lemonade mix (you can also add fresh lemon juice). For a straight-on blast of berries, check out this smoothie recipe from Kitchen Daily. And for a shot of vitamin C and protein, whip up this wake-up smoothie with berries, orange juice and tofu.

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Can't wait for peak season to enjoy summery berries and succulent fruits? Use frozen fruit to make a quick sauce.

Cooking steel-cut oats may take a bit more time than a packet of instant oatmeal (OK, about 20 to 30 minutes longer), but the chewy texture and nutty flavor of these freshly milled whole grains will make all the difference.

Stir in a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon, and top with fresh mixed berries, as in the recipe photographed above, and you'll have a sweet eye-opener that's also good for your heart. And if you're not an early riser, you can put the ingredients in the pot the night before and let them cook overnight using your slow cooker.

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