People often get confused about whether mulberries are safe to eat. Due to their extraordinary nutritional value, sweet flavor, and several health benefits, you can eat mulberries without worrying.
However, there are a few cases of allergic reactions due to mulberry in some people. Also, eating only fully ripened mulberries is good because an unripe mulberry can lead to puking or diarrhea. American Diabetes Association elaborated after conducting a test that overconsumption causes some side effects. This article has everything that can help you understand mulberries, their benefits, harms, and in what forms they are safe to eat.
Can You Eat Mulberries? - EdiblenOr Not
The delicious, fleshy, and succulent mulberries taste like grapefruit and are the juiciest fruits you can eat without worrying. But do all mulberries safe to eat? There are over a thousand species, but the most recognized are white, red, and black mulberry, which are completely safe to eat.
Though there are fewer calories in berries (60 cal per 140 g), they include highly nutritious phytonutrient compounds such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, water, lipids, and protein. Other components such as Riboflavin (a source of Iron), anthocyanins, zeaxanthin, and resveratrol are also present in mulberry.
So, you can eat and even drink them in any form, including wine, tea, jam, fruit juice, canned foods, and snacks in dried forms. If you're curious about whether can you eat damsons off the tree you can read our detailed blog.
How to Identify Edible Mulberries?
Identifying mulberries isn’t a hefty task as it looks like blackberries hanging from the branches of trees. They have quite a long season, starting in summer when mulberries grow but are ripe in a few weeks. Here’s how you can identify mulberries from other berries.
- You can’t identify a particular mulberry by noticing the name or color, as the white mulberry has dark purple-black color, and the black mulberry has a deep purple color. In contrast, the red mulberry varies from red to black.
- The mulberry shape also helps identify them, as they look similar to elongated blackberries. These can be small to 1/2 inch or large up to 1 inch.
- The leaves of mulberry plants are heart-shaped, lobed, or usually resemble fig trees.
- The bark of mulberry trees is grey-brown, which is smooth earlier but develops fissures over time.
- An edible mulberry has smooth edges, and the fruit smells like rootbeer.
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What Are The Health Benefits of Mulberries?
Mulberries are advantageous for multiple reasons, such as,
- Research has shown that mulberry extracts are highly beneficial for people with kidney damage due to diabetes, also known as Diabetic Nephropathy.
- Some recent studies have revealed that mulberry assists in melanin production, a natural pigment that determines hair color. Anyone suffering from premature hair greying can control it by relying on mulberry juice regularly.
- Skin pigmentation can also be treated with mulberry extracts as it has some properties to brighten skin, reduce dark spots and make the skin tone even. The UV rays' effects can be minimized by the resveratrol present in mulberries.
- Patients with contracted lung infection can benefit from mulberries as studies have stated that mulberry can prevent two pathogens that promote infection. The root bark also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- The production of red blood cells increases with mulberry consumption, and the oxygen distribution enhances to all the vital organs.
- Most specifically, black mulberries have fiber, such as pectin, a laxative to relieve constipation, stomach cramps, and bloating. It is helpful for people struggling with obesity to lose fat.
- Zeaxanthin in mulberry aids in preventing retinal damage and removes free radicals causing macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Anthocyanins and other important ingredients have anti-cancer properties. Resveratrol also helps fight colon, prostate, skin, and thyroid cancers.
Are Mulberries Poisonous? - Side Effects
Mulberries can solve many health problems but have downsides or side effects. However, they are not poisonous.
- As mulberry reduces blood sugar levels, consuming mulberry tea will suppress the rise of blood glucose for 90 minutes, leading to hunger, excess sweating, dizziness, tremors, headache, and confusion.
- Sometimes, overconsumption of mulberries causes indigestion, diarrhea, and bloating. The sap released from plants can irritate the skin.
- The absorption of some nutrients can hinder due to mulberry. If carbohydrate absorption reduces, it will leave lethal effects on the body.
- Though gout symptoms can easily be reduced by mulberry as it decreases the uric acid in the kidneys, consuming mulberry leaves will increase potassium levels in the body, causing dehydration and bleeding inside the body.
- Some people develop severe allergies after eating mulberries. Also, you must consult the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How Many Mulberries Can You Eat?
The most recommended amount of mulberries one should consume per day is 40 g. Consuming 40 g of dried fruits in a day increases the average life span. It also improves health conditions by reducing heart-related diseases by up to 20%. You can eat a handful of dried mulberries per day, which may be between 75 to 80, depending on your hand size.
FAQs
Who should not eat mulberry?
People with hypoglycemia, under medication, or undergoing surgery should avoid eating mulberry. It can drop blood sugar levels and blood pressure and increase potassium, leading to internal bleeding.
Can You Eat Mulberry Leaves?
Mulberry leaves are useful for improving eyesight, nourishing the liver, and also help in treating dysentery, coughs, colds, and dizziness. It also strengthens the blood. You can eat young leaves after cooking, but it is better not to eat leaves during medication to avoid side effects.
Are White Mulberries Safe to Eat?
White mulberry is completely safe to eat and considered the best to prevent any toxicity in the human body. However, overconsumption can lead to diarrhea, constipation, or bloating,
