If you were offered a pill that helped you prevent disease, feel full, improve memory and it tasted delicious you would take it, right?

You will not need a spoonful of sugar to help this medicine go down. Just pop into your local grocery store and pick up these vibrant, sweet berries. No prescription needed.

It’s no secret that berries are healthy, but do you know why? Well these summer favourites are actually a superfruit. What makes berries so special is their high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress, which leads to cell damage. Thus a diet high in antioxidants has a role in disease prevention and premature ageing.

So are they in your fridge? Here are seven great reasons why they should be.

• Weight control
• Reduce cognitive decline
• Prevent and manage diabetes
• Prevent high blood pressure
• Reduce Heart disease
• Cancer prevention
• Osteoporosis

So can you know see why berries are called super foods?

So how much should we eat? We all know we should be eating 5 a day of fruit and vegetables so why not make one of them berries! Studies have shown benefits with three or more servings a week.

Does it matter fresh or frozen? Unfortunately today’s lifestyle does not allow everybody to pick his or her own fresh berries. However, nutrients like Vitamin C are maintained even when frozen.

How can I get enough berries into my diet?

Don’t be afraid to be creative. Enjoy these suggestions:

• Start the day with berries in your yogurt, oats or smoothie.
• Snack on them just as they are washed and fresh with some almonds
• Lunch – make a salad dressing
• Grilled fish on a bed of strawberry and asparagus
• Dessert – Blackberry popsicles

So DO NOT leave the aisle without these itty bitty fruits in your shopping trolley. Versatile and sweet, and a powerful weapon in prevention that your kids will love to gobble up.

Read the full article first published on Nova Magazine on 4 February 2016.  Click here to view the article.