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Blueberries are native to North America and have been consumed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that blueberries gained popularity. Now, people understand blueberries even more due to various studies highlighting the benefits of this incredibly healthy and low-calorie superfood.
Blueberries belong in the Vaccinium family, which includes cranberries, huckleberries, bilberries and other berries. They are an excellent source of nutrients like protein, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamins C and K1 and the antioxidant anthocyanin. In fact, blueberries are so full of antioxidants that research says they can go head to head with other antioxidant-rich superfoods like strawberries and pomegranates. The low-calorie count of blueberries makes them a great food to support weight loss, and the rich combination of nutrients makes it a superfood that can provide various health benefits. Below are 8 reasons to consume blueberries daily.
A study found that older adults (average age 76) that were fed between two to 2.5 cups of blueberries daily for 12 weeks performed better on cognitive function tests, which included memory testing, than those who hadn’t consumed the superfood.
The vitamin C in blueberries makes it effective at preventing glaucoma, one of the most common causes of blindness in the United States. The anthocyanin and other antioxidants are also great at protecting your eyes against the formation of cataracts.
Consuming blueberries significantly lowers your risk of developing heart disease by regulating and relaxing arterial elasticity in the vascular wall. Several studies have been done proving how blueberries lower your risk of heart disease by reducing your risk of hypertension. If you already have high blood pressure, consuming blueberries everyday can lower it by four to six percent.
Anthocyanin improves memory and mental fluidity. It can also help protect against brain cell loss. Blueberries also stimulate nerve cell growth and facilitate better communication between nerve cell processes, in turn slowing the aging process.
Blueberries offer antioxidant protection of the digestive tract by combating free radicals, some of which can cause cancer. This superfood plays a significant role in combating colon cancer. Furthermore, the dietary fiber blueberries can strengthen your gut microbiome.
Romanian chemists from the University of Bucharest discovered that blueberries protect against heavy metals. Blueberry extract created a force field that acted as a barrier against cadmium, protecting cells from toxic heavy metal damage.
Blueberries have a favorable impact when used to control blood sugar levels. There’s research to suggest that the anthocyanins in blueberries can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. This lowers your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Blueberries contain a range of different antioxidants, all of which are beneficial to the human body. This range of nutrients provides nerve cells with protection from oxygen damage. Nerve cells are persistently at risk for oxygen damage, thus requiring continuous protection.
Blueberries can be one of your body’s greatest allies. Their ability to eliminate free radicals protects your body from everyday exposure to various forms of pollution, including sun exposure and heavy metals.
As of 2012, the US is responsible for most of the world’s supply of blueberries, growing around 84 percent of the world’s supply of this superfood.
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