Blackcurrants - the new cranberries?

The Blackcurrant Foundation is continuing its promotion of British blackcurrants as a superfood following new research that shows the currant is effective in beating urinary tract infections as well as helping prevent Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer.

A recent study has shown that eating and drinking blackcurrants can help reduce the frequency, severity and duration of urinary tract infections.

British blackcurrants are high in health-promoting proanthocyanidins, which interfere with bacteria that cause UTIs, such as cystitis.

Derek Stewart, from the Scottish Crop Research Institute said: “We know from a range of studies that proanthocyanidin contained in fruit such as cranberries is great at reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. However, most people don’t know that blackcurrants are also packed with these compounds.”

The foundation is targeting women’s and health press running to coincide with the British season, for six to eight weeks from mid-July.