What is it about berries that make them so good for the body? Berries contain a number of substances that t show promise for preventing such serious problems such as cataracts and cancer. So what is the compound that packs a berry punch? Ellagic acid. This compound might help prevent cellular changes in the body that can lead to cancer. Ellagic acid is a powerful antioxidant, meaning that it can reduce damage caused by free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules that can literally punch holes in healthy cells and kick off the cancerous process. All berries contain some ellagic acid, with strawberries and blackberries having the most. Did you know that it’s best to eat fresh berries in their natural state? When you slice strawberries, vitamin C levels decline because it causes the release of an enzyme that quickly destroys the vitamin. So eat fresh berries that are their peak of freshness and that are in season.

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