Strawberries
They're easy to find, relatively cheap, and they're a nutrient-rich all-rounder, with studies showing they help ward off age-related illnesses. They contain more vitamin C than citrus fruit, but beware: strawberries are heavily sprayed with pesticides, so try to choose organic.

Daily dose: Half a cup of strawberries a day will blast nasty free radicals and promote cell renewal, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Acai berries
It's hyped as a superfood, but this berry contains fewer anti-oxidants than a glass of red wine. It's not all bad news, though: acai is high in protein and fibre, and is packed with omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which can help protect against heart disease.

Daily dose: Sixty grams of frozen acai pulp will keep cholesterol levels under control.

Blueberries
It's all in the name – that dark blue pigment is responsible for a roll-call of health benefits, including a boosted immune system, improved heart health and even a reduction of belly fat, studies show.

Daily dose: Half a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries a day can help keep age-related memory loss at bay, researchers at Tufts University found.

Cranberries
Add these to your morning muesli: thanks to their high levels of bacteria-fighting hippuric acid, cranberries will cut your chances of getting a urinary tract infection by up to 20 per cent.

Daily dose: A 300ml glass of unsweetened cranberry juice will do the trick. Plus, a 100g serve of dried berries contains one third of the recommended dietary intake of vitamin C.

Goji berries
Put down the chocolate bar and have this instead. "The mix of the amino acid tryptophan with natural sugar creates the same happy hormones as your favourite chocolate, minus the kilojoules," says nutritionist Lisa Vance.
Daily dose: Try a handful of the Himalayan dried berries for a happy hit.