What is mulberry?
Mulberry is the fruit of a species belonging to the genus Morus, in turn its included in the Moraceae family. The Morus alba (white mulberry) is native to China, Morus rubra (Red Mulberry) to the eastern United States and Morus nigra (Black Mulberry) to West Asia. A single plant of the genus Morus however, can produce fruits of various colors: blacks, red, purple or white.
What are the nutritional properties of the mulberry?
100 g of blackberries, mulberries (Morus nigra .L) provide about 43 calories and:
- 1.44 g of protein
- 0.39 g of lipids
- 9.80 g carbohydrates
- 1.7 g of fiber
- 36.4 mg of vitamin C
- 0.87 mg of vitamin E
- 0,620 mg of niacin
- 0.101 mg of riboflavin
- 0.050 mg of pyridoxine
- 7.8 micrograms of vitamin K
- 6 micrograms of folate
- 25 IU of vitamin A
- 194 mg of potassium
- 39 mg of calcium
- 18 mg of magnesium
- 10 mg of sodium
- 1.85 mg of iron
- 0.12 mg of zinc
- 60 micrograms of copper
- 0.6 micrograms of selenium
The mulberry is a source of alpha-carotene (12 micrograms in 100 g), beta-carotene (9 micrograms in 100 g), lutein / zeaxanthin (136 micrograms in 100 g), anthocyanins and resveratrol.
When should you NOT eat mulberries?
The mulberry may alter the levels of sugar in the blood. Therefore when taking medication such as insulin which reduces blood sugar, you should seek advice from your doctor. Mulberries may also increase the side effects of drugs that reduce cholesterol and interfere with the action of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, drugs for gout and, in general, molecules metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4.
Mulberry seasonality
Mulberries ripen in the summer, usually between June and July.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of the mulberry
Mulberries are a source of antioxidants which may help protect the cells and the body from aging, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, diabetes and infections. Resveratrol is also an ally of cardiovascular health, while zeaxanthin protects the retina. Iron is important for red blood cells, potassium for the heart and manganese for the antioxidant defenses. Finally, the vitamins of group B aid the proper functioning of the metabolism.
