Currant Juice
You can buy currant juice in most supermarkets or health food stores.
Since the French name for currant is “cassis”, and since things just seem to sound better in French, the juice is often referred to as such.
The currant fruit has been grown and enjoyed for generations in Europe. The Europeans treasure the currant for its full-bodied flavor and rich concentration of vitamins and antioxidants. Because of its wealth of nutrients and taste, the currant is used in the preparation of many European snacks and beverages. In America, the cultivation of currants and the appreciation of currant juice for its flavor and health benefits is growing rapidly.
Currant is fresh tiny berry related to the gooseberry. Currents are black, red, or white. The black ones are used for preserves, syrups and liqueurs; while the red and white berries are for eating out of hand.
Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum, (Phalsa or Falsa) is a species of Ribes berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia, and is a perennial.
The redcurrant (or red currant), Ribes rubrum, is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western Europe.
The white currant (whitecurrant), sometimes called the pink or yellow currant, is a member of the genus Ribes. White currant berries are a bit smaller and sweeter than red currants. They are sometimes used to make “pink” jams and jellies (a mixture of white and red). The white currant is actually an albino cultivar of the red currant but is marketed as a different fruit.
Health Benefits of Black Currant Juice
During World War II, black currants were part of a team of British war heroes that saved the day in the form of vitamin-C. The sweet, deep-purple berry was also administered as syrup to English children as a scurvy preventative. Since this time, the benefits of black currants have expanded to include protection against immunity deficiencies, cancer and heart disease. To reap the many benefits of this fruit, blend 1 cup black currants with 8 oz. of water for a sweet and nutritious juice.
Iron
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, iron is a main component of many proteins and enzymes that promote positive health in human physiology. One of the main tasks of iron is to protect against fatigue and immunity deficiencies by transporting oxygen to cells. Iron absorption is significantly higher in meat than plant sources or iron-enriched foods such as cereals or oatmeal. According to Nutrition Data, 1 cup of natural black currant juice will offer 10 percent of the daily value for iron.
Vitamin-C
Cell damage and regeneration is the main task on the to-do list of Vitamin-C. According to the National Institutes of Health, without this antioxidant “skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels” could not be made. Vitamin-C blocks a majority of the free radicals found in toxic chemicals and pollutants associated with aging, cancer, heart disease and inflammation. 1 cup of natural black currant juice offers 338 percent of the suggested daily value for vitamin-C.
Potassium
This essential mineral conducts the electricity in skeletal and muscle contractions that affect the heart, skeletal and digestive systems. Potassium aids in the functionality of all cells, tissues and organs in the body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While certain diseases and anti-inflammatory and heart medications have been found to cause potassium imbalances, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low salt accommodates most. One cup of natural black currant juice offers 10 percent of the suggested daily value for potassium.
