THE MIGHTY BLUEBERRY
HEALTH BENEFITS of BLUEBERRIES: One of nature's most amazing and
powerful anti-oxidants, blueberries offer a variety of health
benefits, from to lowering cholesterol to building up urinary
tract health, improving vision and much more.
Researchers around the world are proving without a doubt the
marked health benefits of this demure but powerful little fruit.
The growing body of evidence suggests this delicious gift, part
of Mother Nature's Bounty, could possibly stand as an effective
disease fighter.
Research conducted at the USDA center has found blueberries rank
hands down number one in antioxidant activity. This is in
comparison to 40 other fruits and vegetables. The role of
antioxidants is to neutralize free-radicals, the by-products of
energy metabolism. Free radicals are responsible in part for
cancer and other age related diseases. Anthocyanin, the pigment
that makes blueberries their dark purply blue, is though to be
the key agent in this disease fighting process.
In another research study conducted by the USDA, it was found
that feeding blueberries to laboratory rats slowed down the age
related loss in mental capacity. This finding alone has major
implications for human cognitive decline, namely Altzheimer's
and other age related cognitive diseases. Again, it is purported
that the high antioxidant activity probably played a role.
High Cholesterol? Try incorporating the mighty blueberry into
your daily diet. It is postulated that blueberries may reduce
the build-up of the bad cholesterol that contributes to heart
disease. And once again, the dark pigmented antioxidants are
thought to play a key role in cholesterol reduction. The
American Chemical Society feels that the health supporting
compounds can be extracted and developed into a nutraceutical
for those who do not respond well to current statin drugs.
Urinary tract infections? How about some blueberries? Rutgers
University researchers have isolated yet another blueberry
compound that appears to promote urinary tract health. It seems
special components of the blueberry inhibit the ability of some
types of infectious bacteria to adhere to the walls of the
urinary tract.
Your eyesight? European studies have documented the relationship
between bilberries (the European cousin of the American
blueberry) and improved eyesight. One study conducted in Japan
releaved that blueberries may help ease eyes fatigue. The magic
components again? The out dark blue pigment.
The belief that certain foods have medicinal and other healing
properties has been with us since the first recorded and
documented writings ever produced by man. Today food properties
and their potential for healing are being explored by both the
food and medical sciences. Though blueberries are not a
cure-all, it goes without saying that the natural substances
they contain are now thought to have marked health benefits,
including naturally occurring fiber, antioxidants and vitamins.
So far, the powerful antioxidant properties of the blueberry
seem to have the most conclusive role in the prevention and
delay of certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease
and the aging process. The caveat. There exist no long term
human studies to date. However, why look a gift horse in the
mouth? Have you had your blueberries today?