27 Consider the Currant
Reflection
Commonly cultivated in the cooler regions of Europe, Asia, and American, the currant is grown both in home gardens and commercially. The fruit of a shrub grows in clusters as smooth, round globes. There are several varieties producing a variety of colored fruits: red, white, and black. Some of these are only grown as ornamentals. One of the black varieties R. nigrum was common in America, but because it hosted the white-pine blister rust, has been banned in many areas.
Currants are nutritious and have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. These fruits have four times more vitamin C than oranges. Currants are also rich in antioxidants, even more so than blueberries, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Currants also contain Omega-6 essential fatty acid. All of these nutrients mean benefits for the body. They support many of our organs including the brain and the kidneys. They purify the blood, and prevent anemia. They regulate metabolism and bolster the immune and reproductive systems. They are known to significantly reduce inflammation and because of this, they reduce the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, allergies, asthma, and colitis. They work wonders for the entire nervous system and also prevent cancer.
Though a bit harder to find in stores, fresh currants sometimes can be found seasonally in produce departments and at local farmer’s markets. Cold pressed juice is often sold at health food stores. Dried currants can be ordered online and also may be found in the dried fruit section of grocery and health food stores. Make a note when buying there there is actually a dried grape that is also called currant. Make sure you get what you want.
There are many ways to enjoy these beautiful fruits. You can eat them fresh or add them to smoothies. They are good as tea and as said before, make a powerfully healing juice.
Resources:
“Currant.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1; EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=cu255500&site=eds-live.
William, Anthony. “Currants.” https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/currants. Assessed 26 June 2021.