- Make It Yourself Lavender Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs!
- 20 Things You Never Knew About “Down There”
- 12 Best Foods For Those Suffering From Arthritis Pain
- 12 Personal Hygiene Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Mom Never Told You About #4!)
- 15 Medicinal Plants And Herbs From The Cherokee People
- 12 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Water During Pregnancy
- 12 Outstanding Winter Foods That Won’t Fatten You Up Like A Christmas Turkey
8 Super Benefits from Blueberries and Some Things You Didn’t Know
Everyone loves the taste of blueberries, and many of us know that these little bluish-purple gems are true super foods, but just when you thought blueberries couldn’t possibly get any better, research has found that freezing this fruit actually increases it’s nutritional content.
A food science major at South Dakota State University conducted a study that discovered that frozen blueberries are just as nutritious as fresh ones, even after being frozen for 6 months.
This experiment involved measuring the antioxidant levels in the blueberries after they had been frozen for one month, three months, and then five months. The antioxidant levels of the frozen berries were compared to the fresh ones and it was discovered that there had been no decrease in the overall nutritional value of the berries that had been frozen.
In fact, the study showed that freezing actually increased the concentration of anthocyanin. It appears that the ice crystals that form from the freezing process disrupt the actual structure of the plant tissue, which makes these anthocyanins more available. Antioxidants, such as anthocyanins are compounds that provide multiple systems in the body with protection.
Blueberries just might be the world’s healthiest food, right up there with pomegranates and strawberries. Consuming all of the colors of the rainbow, when it comes to food, is the healthiest way to eat. Anthocyanin simply works wonders in the body and this is the colorful pigment that gives many of our foods their bright colors. Almost as if nature is enticing us to eat these healthy foods! ‘
Blueberries are best eaten frozen or fresh, rather than eating them in baked goods like pancakes and muffins, as raw blueberries will give you the greatest nutritional benefits as well as the best flavor.
These fruits are native to North American and the Native American Indians have been eating and enjoying them for hundreds of years. The humble blueberry is now enjoyed around the world and is one of the most popular dessert ingredients in the world!
Don’t believe those industry studies that say that organic food is the exact same in nutritional content as conventional foods, it’s simply not true. Organic blueberries have a much higher nutritional content then conventional blueberries sprayed with chemicals.
Check out the 8 healthy benefits that beautiful blueberries offer us.
1. Heart healthy
Eating blueberries significantly lowers your risk of developing heart disease. They regulate and relax arterial elasticity in the body’s vascular walls while they improve overall blood flow.
SEE ALSO: Black Super Foods: Black Is the New Green
2. Improves your memory
One study discovered that adults aged 76 and older, that were fed blueberries every day for 12 weeks (about 2 cups per day) performed significantly better on two different cognitive function test, including memory tests, than those who did not eat this super food.
3. Protects your eyes
It’s been proven that blueberries protect the retina of the eye from unwanted sunlight and damage from oxygen.
4. Protects the nervous system
As we’ve mentioned earlier, blueberries have a wide range and variety of antioxidants, all of which are highly beneficial to the body. These nutrients provide the body’s nerve cells with protection from oxygen damage. The nerve cells are constantly at risk for oxygen damage, and therefore need constant protection.
5. Helps to avoid brain problems associated with aging
The anthocyanin in blueberries improves mental fluidity as well as memory and can help protect us against the loss of brain cells. They stimulate nerve cell growth while facilitating improved communication between nerve cell processes, which, in turn, slows the aging process.
6. Can regulate blood sugar
Even for diabetics, blueberries can have a favorable impact. For those who consume a minimum of three servings every day, there was a significant improvement in the regulating of their blood sugar levels as berries, in general, have a low glycemic index. Foods with a glycemic index of 50 or low are considered to be low in their glycemic values. Blueberries, along with all other types of berries, have scores in the 30 to 40 range.
7. Offers protection from toxic metals
Scientists at the University of Bucharest found that blueberries even offer protection from heavy metals. The extract in blueberries created a type of force field or barrier against cadmium, and protected cell from toxic heavy metal damage. Read also about top foods that detox your body from GMOs.
8. Improves your digestion
The antioxidant protection that blueberries offer your digestive tract is due to the combating of damaging free radicals, some of which can cause cancer. Blueberries play an important role in battling colon cancer.
So keep a bag of organic blueberries in your freezer and find reasons to grab a handful a couple of times per day!
Source:
(By the way, if you’re enjoying this article, you may want to subscribe to the Naturalon’s free newsletter; get breaking news alerts on GMO’s, fluoride, superfoods, natural cures and more… You privacy is protected. Unsubscribe at any time.)
