Juicy fruit

Forget an apple a day. To really keep the doctor away — along with disease, memory loss and even wrinkly, sagging skin — try a handful of berries instead. At least, that’s  that more and more experts are advocating based on the latest health research.  Thanks to berries’ high vitamin and antioxidant content, both familiar varieties (such as raspberries, blueberries and cranberries) and more exotic strains (like small red Himalayan goji berries, which grow in China and Tibet, and bright-purple Amazonian acai berries, which resemble grapes and grow in Brazil) pack a mighty punch. Though we’ve long heard about their nutritional benefits, berries are now cropping up in everything from moisturizers and lipglosses to dietary supplements. “Berries especially the darker ones, like blueberries and blackberries — have a ton of what we call henolic compounds, which are plant-based materials that play a protective role against oxidative damage,” explains Dr. Nigma Talib, a Vancouver-based naturopathic doctor and the owner and medical director of the West Vancouver Wellness Centre. “These phenolic compounds reduce inflammation not only when they are applied topically but also inside the body by supporting the immune system. That makes a huge impact, improving everything from cardiovascular health to wrinkles.”

It’s no surprise, then, that many skin-care manufacturers think that berries are a recipe for success. Dr. Dennis Gross, a New York-based dermatologist and the founder of MD Skincare, is giving berries a starring role in his Hydrating Body Emulsion, a product in his new body-care range, Beauty In: Toxins Out Natural Beauty Collection. The line, which launches this spring, is designed to reverse the damage caused by exposure to environmental pollutants. Products in the line combine essential oils, minerals and detoxification agents with fruit extracts, such as cranberry and blueberry seeds and juice. “I have identified how natural ingredients can successfully counteract the damage caused by impurities that are absorbed into the skin,” explains Gross. How do berries lend a hand? They’re potent antioxidants that ward off the free rad icals (reactive oxygen molecules) that lead to premature wrinkling and loss of elasticity and firmness.

Berries also appear in such products as the Amazonian Berry Wash from Euoko, an upscale anti-aging line. “We use extracts of goji and acai to protect against free radicals of oxygen and carbon,” says Brandon Truaxe, founder and president of Euoko. Although carbon radicals are not as well known, he says that both molecules can cause extensive damage. “Their main benefit is lowering oxidative stress,” says Truaxe. “When you introduce antioxidants, instead of fighting this stress, the body has more time and resources available to repair and renew itself. You see a decrease in fine lines and sagginess, and skin appears much healthier.” Other skin-care brands with berries on the menu include Revaléskin (which features coffee berries, harvested from the coffee bush) and Fresh (due to launch a range later this year based on arctic berries, which grow in sub-zero temperatures).

'I have identified how natural ingredients can successfully counteract the damage caused by impurities that are absorbed into the skin,' says Dr. Dennis Gross.