Cranberries are a familiar food to many in the form of Cranberry sauce. However, if you look closely at the label you will notice that Cranberry sauce is “not a significant source of Vitamin C.” The reason being heat destroys Vitamin C, however studies comparing fresh and freeze-dried fruits have shown no significant effect on Vitamin C content.[5]

   One particular benefit of cranberries to the immune system is their ability to weaken the cell wall of bacteria, assisting the body to destroy them.[6] This is a major reason why cranberries have been traditionally used to support the urinary tract, which is vulnerable to bacterial growth. [6]

   Luo han guo (Monk fruit) is a unique and highly prized fruit that grows in the remote regions of China. A refined extract from this fruit is used as an alternative sweetener.

   As a sweetener it no longer contains fructose or glucose. Instead, the sweetness comes from antioxidants called mogrosides, making monk fruit sweetener about 100 times sweeter than sugar. Unlike sugar, it does not provide calories and does not raise blood sugar, making it suitable for use by diabetics. [7, 8]

   Maqui berries are renown for their Anthocyanin content. Many studies have demonstrated the beneficial health effects of anthocyanin extracts, especially antioxidation and anti-inflammatory effects.[9] The most prominent anthocyanin in Maqui is Delphinidin, which accounts for over one-third of all anthocyanin. In the studies, Delphinidin increased the glutathione levels inside cells, increasing cell viability. [9]

   Glutathione plays a major role in the inflammatory response of the immune system, in particular with inflammation of the lungs.[10] Glutathione is also essential for T-lymphocyte proliferation and dendritic cell functions, among others. [10]

   In addition to being a very concentrated source of Vitamin C (up to 100 times that of a lemon), acerola is one of the richest natural sources of ascorbic acid and contains a plethora of phytonutrients like carotenoids phenolics, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. [11] One study has found that the form of Vitamin C found in acerola is better absorbed by humans than synthetic ascorbic acid. [11]

   In its natural setting, Vitamin C never exists as pure ascorbic acid, but is complexed with various enzymes and bioflavinoids such as rutin. [12] Not only is the complex better absorbed, but another study established “the combination of ascorbic acid and rutin had higher antioxidant properties compared to the activity of the single compound alone.”[12]

   In many ways blueberries have many of the same benefits as maqui berries. When compared side by side, maqui berries seem to outshine blueberries, but there are far more studies on blueberries with countless established health benefits that we cannot currently attribute to maqui berries.

   One such benefit is how blueberries support the growth of Bifidobecteria in the intestinal microbiota. These beneficial bacteria interact with human immune cells and to modulate specific pathways including T cell-mediated immune responses.[13]

   Strawberries are unique among berries for having their seeds on the outside. Most berries also do not come with little green leaves attached at the top. These differences in strawberries are related to their botanical difference which also shows them having higher levels of nitrates, most of which is in the leaves and some of which makes it into freeze-dried strawberry powder.

   One study on freeze-dried strawberry powder, like that used in Berry C, found a special support of cardiovascular health, which is attributed to the nitrates.[15] Aside from this, strawberries also share in common many of the benefits noted in other berries, and particularly its contribution to ellagic acid. [15]

[1] Industrial Fermentation of Vitamin C. Weichao Yang, Hui Xu.

[2] Synthetic or Food-Derived Vitamin C—Are They Equally Bioavailable? Anitra C. Carr, Margreet C. M. Vissers.

[3] Emblica officinalis (Amla): A review for its phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal uses and medicinal potentials with respect to molecular mechanisms. Variya BC1, Bakrania AK1, Patel SS2.

[4] The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Monica H Carlsen,  Bente L Halvorsen, Kari Holte, Siv K Bøhn, Steinar Dragland, Laura Sampson, Carol Willey, Haruki Senoo, Yuko Umezono, Chiho Sanada, Ingrid Barikmo, Nega Berhe, Walter C Willett, Katherine M Phillips, David R Jacobs, Jr, Rune Blomhoff.

[5] Effect of Freeze-Drying on the Antioxidant Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Tropical Fruits. Int J Mol Sci.

[6] Proanthocyanidin Interferes with Intrinsic Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms of Gram‐Negative Bacteria. Vimal B. Maisuria, Mira Okshevsky, Eric Déziel, Nathalie Tufenkji.

[7] What are monk fruit and stevia? Jon Johnson.

[8] Insulin secretion stimulating effects of mogroside V and fruit extract of luo han kuo (Siraitia grosvenori Swingle) fruit extract.. Zhou Y, Zheng Y, Ebersole J, Huang CF.

[9] Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Delphinidin on Glial Cells and Lack of Effect on Secretase Enzyme. Dhafir Q Masheta, Shafq K Al-Azzawi.

[10] Role of glutathione in immunity and inflammation in the lung. Pietro Ghezzi.

[11] Acerola, an untapped functional superfruit: a review on latest frontiers. Anand Prakash,Revathy Baskaran.

[12] Rutin and ascorbic acid cooperation in antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect on human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts exposed to UVA and UVB radiation. Gęgotek A, Ambrożewicz E, Jastrząb A, Jarocka-Karpowicz I, Skrzydlewska E.

[13] Bifidobacteria and Their Molecular Communication with the Immune System. Lorena Ruiz, Susana Delgado, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, Borja Sánchez, Abelardo Margolles.

[14] The content of nitrates and nitrites in fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs. Nabrzyski M, Gajewska R.

[15] Effects of a dietary strawberry powder on parameters of vascular health in adolescent males. Djurica D, Holt RR, Ren J, Shindel AW, Hackman RM, Keen CL.