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Health Effects of Black Currant

Black currants are the small, edible berries of the black currant shrub, which grows mainly throughout Europe. Records going back to the medieval period detail physicians using black currants as treatment for minor ailments and kidney stones. Black currants are quite expensive, which can put people off using them, but a black currant bush is reasonably inexpensive and very easy to grow, producing an abundance of fruit that is very versatile. You can freeze or can the berries for storage, or turn them into jam.

  1. Nutrients

    • Weight for weight, black currants contain more vitamin C than oranges, and adding these berries to your diet can reduce or eliminate the need for taking vitamin C supplements. World War II saw a huge increase in the growth and consumption of black currants, as other vitamin C-rich foods, such as oranges, were scarce and far too expensive for the general population. Black currants also contain gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a highly valuable omega-6 fatty acid, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are very useful compounds in combating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

    Dementia

    • The results of a research project reported in the Journal of Science Food and Agriculture show that black currants contain large quantities of anti-oxidant compounds, which may aid in the prevention of dementia. Further research on the use of black-currant derivatives as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is ongoing.

    Urinary Tract Infection

    • Scientists theorize that including black currants in your diet may help prevent urinary tract infections, due to the berry's anti-oxidant properties. Research is ongoing to find definitive results.

    Minor Ailments

    • Naturalists and herbalists promote the use of black currants for the treatment of many minor ailments, including diarrhea, tonsillitis, whooping cough, sore throats and gum disease.

    Asthma

    • A study released in March 2010 in the medical journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research detailed the effects of black currants on asthma attacks. This study, by Dr. Suzanne Hurst from Plant and Foods Research Institute of New Zealand, involved testing the effects of polyphenol (anti-oxidant) compounds present in black currants on cultures of human lung cells. The results indicated that these compounds, which occur naturally in black currants, reduced the incidence of allergy-related asthma attacks.

    Further Research

    • The ISAFRUIT project, a research project published in the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology in 2009, determined that the anti-oxidant qualities and composition of black currants may be of future use in the fight against cardiovascular disease and cancerous cells, but further extensive research is required.

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