Sometimes it seems as though there’s a constant stream of new so-called “
What are sea buckthorn berries?
Sea buckthorn berries come from – you guessed it – a plant called sea buckthorn, classified scientifically as Hippophae rhamnoides. It’s a large, spiny shrub that can be found in a number of locations owing to its hardiness to the elements, including
After flowering in the spring, the late summer months see female sea buckthorn plants covered in small, bright orange berries that also happen to be edible.
But as for what they taste like, Catherine Cleary of the
Use in traditional medicine
Though it’s only recently been dubbed as a superfood in the mainstream, it’s thought that sea buckthorn berries have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years.
They are said to
Is the hype worth it?
Given the wide range of traditional uses for sea buckthorn berries, scientists have taken an interest in analyzing the composition of the fruit and figuring out which, if any, of the components might confer the alleged illustrious array of health benefits.
Whilst it’s true that, on the face of it, there are
For example, a
A more recent
Co-authored by researchers Renan Danielski and Fereidoon Shahidi of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the study first used a technique called (take a deep breath before saying this one) ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet–mass spectrometry–time of flight (UPLC-UV-MS-TOF) to determine the nutritional composition of the berries.
They found that the berries were rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, which have been suggested as having
As such, the authors investigated the
The study also concluded that the berries have “antidiabetic and anti-obesity potential”, after finding that the extract was capable of inhibiting two enzymes that have a role in the conditions.
Though the authors call these results “promising”, that’s all it is – as of yet unmet potential. It’s by no means a hard and fast conclusion that chowing down on a bunch of sea buckthorn berries is 100 percent guaranteed to cure humans of any ills.
This is primarily because a) it’s just one study, and scientists generally require more than that to give a theory any weight, and b) the study was carried out in vitro – that is, in plates containing 96 tiny test tubes instead of an actual living body.
As a result, though it could be inferred that the berries might have a role in treating diabetes and obesity, the true extent of that role can’t be known without further tests, both in vitro and in cells, animals, and, of course, humans.
This is acknowledged by Danielski, who in a
“Future research needs to focus on understanding the mechanisms behind those effects and further experimentation using animal models and humans,” the study author explained. “If these effects are confirmed in vivo, we can envision the use of sea buckthorn polyphenols for therapeutic and pharmacological purposes, aiding in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, and many other conditions.”
In other words, calling sea buckthorn berries a “weight loss gamechanger” is unfounded without more research, but if you still fancy downing a bunch of the berries, we won’t stop you (although please be careful if you’re going to
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The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.