The Amazing Health Benefits Of Blueberries
The darker the fruit, the better it is for you – and scientific studies over the past few years have proved that the blueberry possesses a multitude of health benefits as well as being delicious and widely available.
Anthocyanin, the pigment which gives blueberries their dark purply blue colour, is now thought to be a key agent in fighting diseases such as cancer, because of its anti-oxidant properties. In fact, it is now thought that blueberries contain more anti-oxidants than any other fruit.
Blueberries are also now attributed as possibly slowing down the ageing process of the brain which leads to conditions such as Alzheimers. The flavonoid-rich blueberry has been tested by scientists from the UK’s Peninsula Medical School and Reading University. A controlled experiment, led by Dr. Jeremy Spencer, a lecturer in molecular nutrition, found that a group of volunteers who ate blueberries as part of their diet over a 12 week period demonstrated a measurable improvement in memory functions.
The benefits of blueberries in the diet seem to be endless. Studies in Japan have suggested that blueberries can improve eyesight by easing eye fatigue. Others suggest that blueberries can help lower bad cholesterol and therefore help prevent heart disease.
So eat blueberries for health!!!
True wild blueberries can only be found in parts of North America, but commercially grown blueberries are widely available in supermarkets. Do be aware that the actual blueberry season is from May to September, so out of season the blueberries you buy will have been subjected to long journeys by air. It doesn’t affect the quality or the benefits of the berries, but from an environmental viewpoint, we should minimise the amount of produce we buy from such sources. Better to stock up on locally grown berries during the season, and freeze them or dry them.
Farmers markets are a good source for locally grown blueberries. Or try specialist organic supermarkets.
Or you can get a blueberry extract supplement.
Or grow your own. The blueberry bush is fairly compact and easy to grow – but it needs very acid soil. If you have not got acid soil, grow it in a pot. You will be rewarded by two crops a year.
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