Blueberries do a lot more than just taste delicious. These little super fruits are packed with powerful antioxidants and phytochemicals that can promote good health and keep us looking and feeling young.
Research done by the USDA has found that blueberries have the highest ORAC rating of the most popular 20 fruits. ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity and is a way to measure the antioxidant content of any food. The higher the ORAC rating, the better able food is to protect against damage by dangerous free radicals that cause cell oxidation.
The pigments that give the blueberry its blue color are called Anthocyanins. These Anthocyanins, as well as flavonoids and tannins are what gives blueberries their powerful healing benefits. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that can do many wonderful things, such as slow down brain aging, boost memory function, protect the eyes and even help fight cancer. Besides being full of powerful antioxidants, blueberries can also help reduce belly fat and are helpful in the prevention of Diabetes.
Blueberries are also a great anti-aging food. They help to keep the brain sharp and the memory in tip top shape as well as reduce wrinkles and strengthen blood vessels. blueberries are good for the heart and can lower bad cholesterol too. Blueberries are also a great anti-inflammatory food and may be helpful for those suffering from arthritis and joint pain. The nutritional components in blueberries are so powerful that they may be helpful in fighting diseases such as, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, high blood pressure and even cancer.
Blueberries promote a healthy urinary tract. Blueberries contain a substance that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria on the inner walls of the urinary tract. The anthocyanosides in blueberries have been proven in clinical studies to slow visual loss. They are helpful preventing problems like macular degeneration and cataracts as well.
Blueberries are low in calories and tastes great. Just perfect for people trying to lose or maintain their weight. Blueberries are considered delicious fruit by most people, but if for some reason you don’t care for them, you can still get all of their health benefits. There are many quality blueberry supplements on the market today. Fresh blueberries are dried and powdered and put into capsules for people who don’t want to eat fresh blueberries or for people who want to have access to the health benefits of blueberries when they aren’t able to eat them.