Archive for the ‘Blueberries’ Category
Benefits of Blueberries
Blueberries are found primarily in Maine and Canada whether they are commercially grown or wild blueberries. The Native Americans used the tiny blue berries, both fresh and dried, for their flavor, their nutrition and there healing qualities. Blue berries have been used in Europe and other parts of that continent for thousands of years. There they are called bilberry. Early Americans were the first to burn their Wild Blueberry barrens to encourage the growth of new bushes and this practice is still used today. The eastern tribes used blueberries in their pemmican, which was blueberries pounded into meat and the dried. The perfect combination of protein and carbohydrates with a high antioxidant content.
USDA studies, using a lab testing procedure called Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity, measured the antioxidant activity of more than 20 commercially available fruits and ranked Wild Blueberries #1! UDSA researcher Ronald Prior, Ph.D., found that a one-cup serving of Wild Blueberries has more total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than a serving of cranberries, strawberries, plums, raspberries or cultivated blueberries. Wild blueberries are much harder to find than commercially grown berries. Walmart is the best source I have found for wild berries.
There are many fruit varieties which have more antioxidant power than blueberries however the blue berry is high in antioxidants and is very easy to get in the US. The other varieties like Acai, Goji Berry and
And there’s more good news: the FDA has concluded that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh and may even retain their nutritional value longer. Antioxidants help our bodies protect against disease and age-related health risks. Every day, our cells wage a battle against free radicals these molecules have been associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. The phytonutrients, natural substances found in fruits and vegetables, neutralize free radicals and help prevent cell damage. Because blueberries have such large amounts of antioxidants you get more bang for your buck.
Antioxidants also protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases of aging. The potent antioxidants found in Wild Blueberries include flavonoids and other phenolics such as anthocyanins; Wild Blue berries are higher in anthocyanin content than other fruits and vegetables. It is these flavonids and anthocyanin that off us the protection against disease
