The Key to Healthy Living is Eating More Blueberries!
Blueberries are key to healthy living! Blueberries are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that fight free radicals, are healthy for the heart, and help prevent disease.
Did you know that these small berries contain good levels of vitamin C, in addition to iron, potassium, silicon, pectin, and beta-carotene? Blueberries' superfood heart-healthy benefits start when pectin binds with cholesterol, lowering levels and helping prevent the build-up of plaque in the arteries. Silicon may help in regenerating the pancreas. Fighting Free Radicals
According to the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Boston’s Tufts University, blueberries are the top fruit for fighting free-radicals. The research center devised a system to measure the antioxidant capability of foods. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, or ORAC. The system measures the ability of fruit and vegetables to neutralize free radicals.
Scientists suggest we eat at least 5,000 ORAC units a day for maximum antioxidant benefit. Just 50g of blueberries provide double this amount. In other anti-aging studies at Tufts, rats fed with extracts of blueberries displayed none of the normal signs of aging. The lab rats, not fed blueberries suffered a loss of concentration, balance, and coordination.
Amazing Antioxidants
With good levels of vitamins and minerals, blueberries are often classed as a superfood and contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds including anthocyanin. Nearly every major 21st-century disease including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease has been linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. It is thought that anthocyanin makes blood vessel walls stronger by interacting with their collagen and helping deter capillary fragility and the development of varicose veins. Another compound in blueberries, myrtillin, lowers blood sugar levels. For this reason blueberries, health benefits include preventing and treating diabetes.
Superfood
Blueberries may also be the ultimate memory superfood. Studies have shown a daily dose of blueberries dramatically slows impairments in motor coordination and memory that often accompany old age. The polyphenols found in blueberries help neurons in the brain communicate with each other more effectively by turning signals on.
Heart Healthy
With such a high ORAC rating, blueberries can also help in the fight against heart disease. A study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry reported blueberries to contain a compound called pterostilbene which has better lipid-lowering functions than resveratrol, found in grapes, or even the prescription drug Ciprofibrate. Like resveratrol, pterostilbene regulates fatty acid metabolism and fats in the bloodstream and helps prevent plaque deposits in the arteries.
Macular Degeneration
Bilberries, a close cousin of blueberries, have been found to protect against glaucoma and cataracts. In Japan, wild blueberries are called vision fruits. They contain very high levels of anthocyanins which are natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Benefits include reducing eye strain and improving night vision. Studies are also underway to ascertain if blueberries can help prevent macular degeneration, a retina disease that is the leading cause of blindness in those over 65.
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Thank you for reading and be sure to eat your blueberries!
The more you know! LOL
Very educational. I enjoyed reading this. I haven’t realised that the blueberries are so healthy. Thank you
You are welcome. Stay safe and healthy!
I love blueberries but never knew its benefits. They are good and I’ll definitely check out these printables.
Me too! Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits!
Wow. All these health benefits just by eating my favorite fruit. Thanks for spreading the word about the good things we can get from blueberries.
Blueberries are my favorite as well!
Wow, I knew blueberries were good for you, but I didn’t realise they could do so much! Luckily, they’re one of my favourite fruits. I seriously cannot get enough of them! Hopefully, my constant consumption of them has been doing my health some good over the years 😋
You were being healthy and doing the right thing all along! LOL
I have heard of the antioxidants effects before but never of protection on macular degenaration, this is great, another reason to eat blueberries!
So many reasons to eat blueberries!
Love love love Blueberries and so agree with every single benefits you have mentioned! Plus I didn’t know they were good for vision and eye health in general. Found one more reason to love them 😀
Soooo many reasons to love blueberries!
I love all berries but blueberries are my absolute favorite. I love that they have so many health benefits!
Mine too! Thanks for stopping by!
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