Nutrition and Recipes
Blueberries Contain an Anti-Cancer Agent
High in fiber, blueberries contain pigments (anthocyanins) which may help prevent cancer and slow the effects of aging. Scientific research from the Agricultural Research Service (the US Department of Agriculture's leading scientific research agency), have pinpointed blueberries, cranberries, huckleberries and related fruit as containing resveratrol, a potential anticancer agent.
Blueberries Are Packed With Antioxidants
Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity out of 40 fruits and vegetables tested by USDA scientists. Just a 1/2 cup of blueberries contains about 1,000 mg of vitamin C, a vitamin known for it's antioxidant properties – up to five times the antioxidant power of other nutritious fruits and vegetables. The anthocyanin in blueberries strengthens blood vessels, making bruises heal faster, skin wrinkle less, and varicose veins less likely to occur.
Bluberries Can Help Slow Aging
New research at Tufts University has shown that blueberries blow other nutritious fruits and vegetables away, reducing every parameter of aging. Tests show that a diet high in blueberries increases cognitive, neurological and motor functions. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of blueberries build a protective coat around the brain to fight signs of aging and deterioration. There is also evidence that blueberries may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders.
Blueberries Lower Cholesterol
Research studies at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have revealed that blueberries can lower cholesterol better than prescription drugs, due to the antioxidant compound “pterostilbene” found in blueberries. About 30 percent of the fiber in blueberries is pectin, a substance shown to reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream. Scientists think that pectin binds to cholesterol in the digestive system, keeping it out of the bloodstream.
Blueberries Increase Cardiovascular Health
Probably the most nutrient-laden part of the blueberry is its skin. The dye released from the pigments in the skin of the blueberry, called anthocyanin is the source of powerful antioxidants used by the body to fight off high blood pressure and help strengthen blood vessels, leading to healthier blood pressure levels and heart health.
Blueberries Prevent and Relieve Arthritus Symptoms
The anti-inflammatory properties of blueberries appear to prevent and relieve arthritic symptoms, and the flavonoid content helps prevent the destruction of the joint structure.
Blueberries Improve Eye Health
A number of studies in Europe have documented that blueberries have very high concentrations of anthocyanin, a natural compound linked with many health benefits including reducing eyestrain, improving nighttime visual acuity, and promoting quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare.
Blueberries are known to prevent and even reverse the most common cause of blindness, macular degeneration, a disease of the retina that is the primary cause of vision loss in older adults. This is due to the anthocyanin in the blue pigment in blueberries. The Blueberry is so popular in Japan for its eyesight benefits that it has been nicknamed “the vision fruit.”
Blueberries Treat and Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Recent studies at the Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth, N.J., have shown that blueberries have compounds similar to those of cranberries and can also be used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Epicatechin is a bioflavonoid (antioxidant) found both in cranberries and blueberries.
Epicatechin works to prevent bacteria from attaching to the lining of the bladder tissue. This causes the bacteria to be eliminated thru your urine rather than attaching to the bladder wall, where they start multiplying and ultimately causing infection. In addition, fructose, the sugar found naturally in fruits, may also be beneficial by interfering with bacterial adhesion.