Blueberries - The Tiny Superfruit Packed with Big Health Benefits
Blueberries are often hailed as a “superfood” for the astounding health benefits they offer. Although small in size, these mighty berries are loaded with many essential nutrients. There are many amazing health benefits you can enjoy by including berries in your diet or snack routine. This content will provide you with some basic information on blueberries and how they can benefit your overall health and well-being.
Blueberries are absolutely delicious, nutritious, and wildly popular. Often known as a superfood, these berries are low in calories and high in nutritional value. They are also so tasty and convenient, that most people consider them as their favourite snack. There are many health benefits of blueberries some of which are mentioned below:
Amazing Health Benefits of Blueberries
Low in Calories
Blueberries are grown in the Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus, a flowering shrub. These plants produce blueberries with a blueish, purple hue. They are closely related to other shrubs that produce cranberries and huckleberries. Blueberries are typically small, which usually comes in a size of 5 to 16 centimeters in diameter. The most common blueberries found in the market are highbush berries, and low bush (wild) berries. Blueberries are low in calories and high in nutrition.
Just one cup of blueberries contains:
Fiber |
3.6g |
Vitamin C |
16% of DV |
Vitamin K |
24% of DV |
Manganese |
22% of DV |
On the other hand, there are also many other nutrient compositions that you can find in these berries. They also contain about 85% of water whereas a cup of blueberries has only 84 calories and 21.5g of carbs.
Packed with Antioxidants
Antioxidants play an important role in your body. They will protect the cells from free radicals that can damage your cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage the cells and contribute to many issues like aging and different diseases like cancer. Blueberries have some of the highest antioxidant content when compared to other fruits and vegetables.
The main antioxidants in blueberries come under the polyphenol antioxidants known as flavonoids. Thus, consuming them will increase the antioxidant levels in your body.
Blueberries Reduce DNA Damages
Did you know that our body experiences oxidative DNA damage on a regular basis? In fact, it is one of the main reasons why we grow older. It also plays an important role in the development of diseases like cancer. As blueberries are high in their antioxidant content, they neutralize some of the free radicals that cause DNA damage. However, as the studies related to these effects are still in the initial stage, there is more research required to confirm the same.
Lower Blood Pressure
Blueberries can be significantly beneficial for people with high blood pressure. As most of us know, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. Studies have shown that people with high blood pressure were able to see a notable difference after consuming blueberry juice on a regular basis. Studies have also shown that blueberries can also be beneficial for postmenopausal women.
It does not matter what your needs are, you will be able to consume berries in many forms. In case you are not able to find fresh blueberries in your area, you can also choose dried berries.
May Improve Brain Functions and Memory
Oxidative stress can accelerate the aging process of your brain, which negatively affects brain functions. However, the antioxidants in blueberries can be beneficial for the areas of the brain that play an important role in intelligence. They benefit the aging neurons, which improves cell signalling. People with mild cognitive functions were able to see improvement in several markers of brain functions after consuming blueberries on a regular basis.
Anti-Diabetes Effect
Blueberries have a very moderate amount of sugar when compared to other fruits. For instance, just one cup of these berries has just 15 grams of sugar. On the other hand, the bioactive compound in blueberries appears to outweigh any type of negative effects when it comes to managing blood sugar levels. The anthocyanins in blueberries can be very beneficial for people facing glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. These anti-diabetic effects can be obtained from both fresh and frozen berries.
If you cannot find fresh berries in your area, you can easily buy dried blueberries from Healthy Master. In fact, they can be highly nutritious snacks that you can munch any time of the day. Apart from buying individual berries, you can also buy different types of berry combos. For instance, the daily power booster offered by Healthy Master contains a blend of numerous berries, nuts, and seeds. Just a handful of this goodness will nourish your body with many essential nutrients.
Great for Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs (Urinary tract infections) have become very common in women of all ages these days. It has become widely known that cranberry juice can alleviate this issue and prevent this type of infection. Being a close relative to cranberries, blueberries also contain anti-adhesive substances. They also prevent bacteria like E-Coli from binding in the wall of the bladder. These anti-adhesive effects of blueberries can be beneficial in case of UTIs.
Conclusion
Blueberries are undoubtedly very healthy and nutritious for your body and health. They will not just boost your physical health, but also your mental health and functions. They are sweet, colorful, and enjoyed in many ways. You can easily consume these berries as a stand-alone snack or added to different dishes. They can be a great addition to salads, smoothies, milk shares, ice creams, and other dishes. In fact, you can also use them in many baked goodies.
It does not matter what your needs are if you are looking for an option to include blueberries in your diet and snack routine, you can easily buy the best from Healthy Master.