Meet the Tart Little Berries That Are Taking the Superfood World by Storm

As the new year swings upon us, you're likely ready to step up your diet and nutrition game and to include all the best superfoods. Even though there are plenty of well-known, go-to superfruits like pomegranate and acai berries, we don't blame you for being intrigued by any new trends on the market. Enter maqui berries, which are taking the world by storm with their trendiness and good-for-you profile. Here's everything you need to know about these berries.

Maqui berries are a small purple berry native to South America, similar in appearance to blueberries and cranberries. While natives have long consumed these berries raw, in the US, these berries are more commonly found in juice, powder, or capsule form.

Maqui berries are rich in anthocyanins, which are known to be powerful antioxidants to boost immunity. These berries are also believed to aid in remedying various health conditions, like high cholesterol, and help to protect against certain forms of cancer, as well as diabetes and heart disease. They are also believed to promote good skin health and weight loss.

Like most other berries out there, maqui berries are very low in calories, making them a perfect food to boost blood sugar and fight hunger pangs. One tablespoon of maqui berry powder has just 26 calories.

Maqui berries offer up a tart flavor similar to blackberries and cherries. If you prefer sweeter fruits, you're likely better off blending the powder into smoothies rather than eating the berries raw.

Like most fruits, maqui berries can be eaten raw, but since they're harder to find here in the US, you can enjoy drinking the juice, or blending it or the powder into bowls or smoothies.

It is definitely safe to eat maqui berries in their natural state. While it has not been proven to be unsafe to consume maqui berries in supplement form, experts believe more research is needed to determine any long-term risks or effects.