Blueberries may be the fountain of youth
Wild blueberries offer more than great flavor. These tiny fruits are packed with powerful, highly concentrated antioxidants that can help fight disease and promote healthy aging.
Deep blue wild blueberries may be “one of the best age-proof foods in your diet,” according to James A. Joseph, Ph.D., co-author of The Color Code and principal investigator for Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition. Center for Research on Aging.
Recent research from the USDA study results indicates that wild blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity per serving compared to 20 other fruits. Using a laboratory testing procedure called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), Dr. Ronald Prior, principal investigator with the USDA Arkansas Center for Children’s Nutrition and Agricultural Research Service, found that a one-cup serving of blueberries wild had more total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than a serving of blueberries, strawberries, plums, raspberries, and even cultivated blueberries. According to Dr. Prior, “Wild blueberries are stars when it comes to their antioxidant capacity.”
Scientists around the world are studying the wild blueberry and the many health benefits this tiny blue fruit has to offer. The many potential health benefits of wild blueberries include:
o Brain health: Ongoing brain research shows that blueberries can improve motor skills and, in fact, reverse short-term memory loss that occurs with aging.
o Cancer Prevention: Research shows that blueberry compounds can inhibit all stages of cancer.
o Heart health: Research indicates that blueberries may protect against heart disease and damage caused by stroke.
o Urinary tract health: Like cranberries, cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections.
o Vision health: research around the world has indicated that blueberries can improve night vision and prevent eye fatigue.
However, since wild blueberries are highly seasonal and may not be available year-round at your local store, here are a few ways to get the powerful antioxidants of wild blueberries no matter the season:
o Fresh blueberries are great straight from the farm or from the produce section of your local grocery store when they are in season.
o Frozen blueberries are a great addition to any meal. Enjoy a few thawed blueberries on your pancakes or muffins. To get some frozen blueberries, visit the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.
o A handful of dried wild cranberries is a great snack or a little bit for your morning cereal. In fact, studies by blueberry researcher Charles M. Mainland, Ph.D., professor of horticulture at North Carolina State University, show that dried blueberries pack an even bigger punch, packing four antioxidants. times higher than fresh blueberries.
o Try some wild blueberry supplements. These supplements are made from wild blueberries and provide highly concentrated amounts of wild blueberries in a capsule format. A good source of wild blueberry capsules is Fruit Advantage. This company not only offers wild blueberry capsules, but also sells a variety of fruit capsules.
So for its great flavor, antioxidants, and a host of health benefits, wild blueberries are a great choice.