What Are the Health Benefits of Blueberries?

What Are the Health Benefits of Blueberries? By Lyla Feldman

Blueberries are one of the most heart healthy fruit available. Who would have ever thought that something so delicious can be so good for you? Just one cup of blueberries each day (whether they are fresh, frozen, or dried) can have a major impact upon your health.

Blueberries are very rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants in this particular fruit reduce the buildup of "bad" LDL cholesterol. This "bad" LDL cholesterol if left untreated can contribute to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Compared to 40 other fruit and vegetables, blueberries rank number in antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity is very important because it can help neutralize harmful byproducts of metabolism, called free radical. These free radicals can eventually lead to cancer and other age related diseases. By consuming blueberries we slow down or prevent the damage that is caused by these free radicals. The beneficial antioxidant that is found in blueberries is called Anthocyanin. This particular compound can also be found in blackberries, black raspberries, black currants, and red grapes; however, the highest level is found in blueberries.

Adding blueberries into your daily diet is easy. You can buy them fresh, frozen or dried. Of course fresh fruit always offers the highest number of nutrients since no processing was required. When purchasing dried blueberries, try to purchase some that were not processed or chemically treated; usually the best place to go is the greenery or other organic food shop. You can add this dried fruit into your morning cereal or oatmeal. If you chose to purchase frozen blueberries, all you have to do is defrost them and add them to your favorite yogurt or eat them plain. There are countless ways to add more blueberries into your diet and with all of their health benefits who wouldn't want to!

Lyla Feldman writes about health and fitness. Some of her favorite passions include writing about energy drinks and natural sleep aids.

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