Blueberries have been enjoyed by local Americans for many years. Besides their scientific health benefits, blueberries are sweet, delicious and convenient. They are often referred to as the “Super Fruit”. The blueberry family are native to North America and Eastern Asia. Blueberry bushes are visually appealing with white blossoms in late spring. They are very green in summer and have abundant red foliage in the fall. Want to fight off Alzheimer’s or improve your memory? Give blueberries another look. They are rich in valuable nutrients, low in sugar, healthy and they taste great! Try to eat blueberries when they are in season. That’s when they taste best, plus they are nutritionally at their peak. If you can’t find fresh berries you could try frozen. There are also some very good supplements around. Just pop a couple capsules, and you receive the benefits of a handful of blueberries. Of course they don’t taste as good.
Blueberries contain vitamin-C, potassium, iron and fiber. They are great for the brain, heart and stomach. Yes, blueberries are bursting with nutrients and flavor. You won’t have to worry about the calories too much either. Several research studies confirm that blueberries are one of the most nutritious foods on the market today. That’s because blueberries are extremely rich in antioxidants. In a recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) comparison of antioxidant properties of more than 20 different fruits, blueberries emerged at the top of the list, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals.
What make blueberries such a super antioxidant?
It’s all attributed to anthocyanins that give blueberries it’s beautiful purple pigment. Anthocyanins are antioxidant flavonoids that protect against some common health problems, and possibly certain effects of aging. One of the signs of aging in the human body is the accumulation of oxidative damage to cells. Our body constantly reacts with oxygen as we breathe, and our cells produce energy. As a consequence of this activity, highly reactive molecules are produced known as free radicals. When free radicals interact with other molecules within the cells, this can cause oxidative damage which can lead to conditions such as alzheimer’s, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
