Blueberries for your better Health

So what makes blueberries a super food? Well probably more than anything else, blueberries are known for their high amounts antioxidant phytonutrients. Antioxidants are super important to good health in that they help to protect the body against free radicals which cause cell damage as well as against inflammation which is a common factor in various chronic diseases associated with the aging process. Anti-aging is a hot topic these days as more people (especially baby boomers) want to live not only longer but healthier and with a better quality of life.

So while we humans have still not found the fountain of youth, there is a lot we can do to slow down the aging process and age gracefully. This is where antioxidants come into play. Free radicals are the unstable oxygen molecules that are associated with speeding up the aging process as well as a host of other degenerative diseases. Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants to a great degree. Prevention of cell damage, heart disease, and cancer can be attributed to the power of blueberries.

Also, researchers are finding that blueberries promote brain health, urinary tract health, and increased night vision. According to a test called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), researchers have shown that blueberries have some of the highest known levels of antioxidant activity among fruits and vegetables. Blueberries also have a very diverse range of micronutrients as well. These micronutrients include the mineral manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber.

Another great thing about blueberries is that they are easy to come by. If you live in America, they will be almost always fresh as they are native to North America. I have actually picked wild blueberries myself here in NJ, and if you get the chance to do so yourself I highly recommend it. It is recommended to consume 1 – 2 cups of blueberries daily to reap the full health benefits. This is easy to do as you can eat them on the road, at work or wherever. No cooking or preparing involved, just pick and enjoy.