Berries and Energy
Carbon hydrates, fats and proteins are energy giving nutrients which produce energy for the maintenance and control of vital functions, growth and renewal of the tissues, maintenance of the body temperature, as well as for work and exercise. The energy content of food stuffs varies a lot and the energy content of vegetables is normally smaller than that of the animal products.
Berries consist mainly of water; about 80-90 % of their total weight is water. The largest part of the dry matter is carbon hydrates (fiber and sugar) and organic acids. Berries contain little proteins or fats. Since berries contain only little fat and a lot of water, they give only little energy. The bulk of the energy received from berries comes in the form of sugars.
Carbon hydrates which are unasbsorbable are called nutrient fiber. Although the body cannot break the nutrient fibers down to an absorbable form, they have many important functions in the digestive system. The insoluble fiber maintains the operation of the intestins and the soluble fiber slows down the emptying of the stomach, among other things.
Berries contain both the insoluble as well as the soluble fiber, pectin. Beside oats and vegetables, berries are an important source of soluble fiber in the diet. The pectin content is at its highest in the berries which are still slightly raw or which have just ripened.
Sources: Törrönen, Riitta (2006) Tutkimustietoa marjojen terveellisyydesta ja terveysvaikutuksista. ETTK, Clinical nutrition, University of Kuopio.
