Blueberries are truly a super food that you should eat and
enjoy as often as you can. Mainers love blueberries. We not only eat them
straight off the bush, we put them in and on almost everything. We put them in pies,
muffins, cakes, scones, pancakes, on cereal, mixed with other fruits, in
salads, in cheese. We make blueberry jams and jellies, candies and ice cream. If
it’s edible, Mainers will stick a few blueberries in it. We even have blueberry
beers and wines. At this time of the year, those little blue bits of sweetness
are as plentiful as grains of sand on the beach, because Maine’s blueberry
season is upon us! Here are just a few of the many health benefits of
blueberries:
· Blueberries have the most antioxidants of any
fruit, and antioxidants help our bodies fight free radicals, which are unstable
molecules that can damage our cells and contribute to aging and cancer. Several
studies suggest that blueberries reduce DNA damage.
·
The antioxidants in blueberries are strongly
linked to reducing levels of oxidized LDL. LDL is your “bad” cholesterol, therefore
blueberries are exceptionally good for your heart. In addition, some evidence
indicates that eating fruits like blueberries, which are rich in anthocyanins, can
reduce the risk of heart attacks.
·
Want to lower your blood pressure naturally? In
many studies, regular blueberry intake is linked to lower blood pressure.
·
Blueberries are low in calories. A 1-cup serving
has just 84 calories, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 24% of the DV
(daily value) for Vitamin C, 36% of the DV for Vitamin K, and 25% of the DV for
manganese.
·
A six-year study in over 16,000 older adults
found that eating blueberries is linked to delays in mental aging by up to 2.5
years.
·
Like cranberries, blueberries contain substances
that can prevent certain bacteria from binding to the wall of your bladder
which can help prevent urinary tract infections.
Fresh blueberries should be refrigerated and consumed within
10 days. Frozen blueberries maintain their quality for up to a year in the
freezer. Look for my blueberry sauce recipe on my website: https://lisaprincenutritionspecialist.com/
Happy Eating! __Lisa 💖
