Health Benefits Of Blueberries: The 8 Best Benefits Of Blueberries For Health
Health Benefits Of Blueberries: Blueberries are often called a “superfood.” This small but mighty berry is loaded with nutrients.
They may help lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, improve memory, aid in exercise recovery, and more.
Blueberries are sweet, nutritious and wildly popular.
Often labeled a “superfood,” they are low in calories and incredibly good for you.
They’re so tasty and convenient that many people consider them their favorite fruit.
Here Are 8 Best Health Benefits Of Blueberries
1. Blueberries Are Low In Calories But High In Nutrients
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, The blueberry bush (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus) is a flowering shrub that produces berries with a bluish, purple hue — also known as blueberries.
It is closely related to similar shrubs, such as those that produce cranberries and huckleberries.
Blueberries are small — around 0.2–0.6 inches (5–16 millimeters) in diameter — and feature a flared crown at the end.
They are green in color when they first appear, then deepen to purple and blue as they ripen.
The two most common types are:
Highbush blueberries: The most common cultivated variety in the US.
Lowbush or “wild” blueberries: Typically smaller and richer in some antioxidants.
Blueberries are among the most nutrient-dense berries. A 1-cup (148-gram) serving of blueberries contains:
Fiber: 3.6 grams
Vitamin C: 16% of the Daily Value (DV)
Vitamin K: 24% of the DV
Manganese: 22% of the DV
Small amounts of various other nutrients
They are also about 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories, with 21.5 grams of carbohydrates.
Calorie for calorie, this makes them an excellent source of several important nutrients.
2. Blueberries Are One Of The Top Antioxidant Foods
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer.
Blueberries are believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries belong to a family of polyphenol antioxidants called flavonoids.
One group of flavonoids in particular — anthocyanins — is thought to be responsible for much of these berries’ beneficial health effects.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Blueberries have been shown to directly increase antioxidant levels in your body.
3. Blueberries Reduce DNA Damage, Which May Help Protect Against Aging And Cancer
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, DNA oxidative damage is an unavoidable part of everyday life. It is said to occur in every cell in your body, every day.
DNA damage is part of the reason we grow older. It also plays an important role in the development of diseases like cancer.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Because blueberries are high in antioxidants, they can neutralize some of the free radicals that damage your DNA.
In one study, 168 people drank 34 ounces (1 liter) of a mixed blueberry and apple juice daily. After four weeks, oxidative DNA damage due to free radicals was reduced by 20%.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, These findings agree with smaller studies that use either fresh or powdered blueberries.
4. Blueberries Protect Cholesterol In Your Blood From Becoming Damaged
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Oxidative damage is not limited to your cells and DNA.
It is also problematic when your “bad” LDL cholesterol is oxidized.
In fact, oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol is a crucial step in the heart disease process.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, The antioxidants in blueberries are strongly linked to reduced levels of oxidized LDL. This makes blueberries very good for your heart.
A daily 2-ounce (50-gram) serving of freeze-dried blueberries lowered LDL oxidation by 28% over 8 weeks in people with obesity.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Another study determined that eating 2.5 ounces (75 grams) of blueberries with a main meal significantly reduced the oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol.
5. Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Blueberries appear to have significant benefits for people with high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
In an 8-week study, people with obesity who had had a high risk of heart disease noted a 4%–6% reduction in blood pressure after consuming 2 ounces (50 grams) of freeze-dried blueberries per day.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, other studies have observed similar effects — especially for postmenopausal women.
6. Blueberries May Help Prevent Heart Disease
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Health Benefits Of Blueberries, While eating blueberries may lower blood pressure and oxidized LDL cholesterol, it’s important to keep in mind that these are risk factors — not actual diseases.
It would be much more informative to know whether blueberries help prevent hard endpoints like heart attacks, which are the world’s leading cause of death.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, A study in 93,600 nurses found that those with the highest intake of anthocyanins — the main antioxidants in blueberries — were at a 32% lower risk of heart attacks compared to those with the lowest intake.
Because this was an observational study, it cannot prove that the anthocyanins alone caused the reduction in risk.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, More studies are needed before any claims can be made.
7. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Brain Function And Improve Memory
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Oxidative stress can accelerate your brain’s aging process, negatively affecting brain function.
According to animal studies, the antioxidants in blueberries may affect areas of your brain that are essential for intelligence.
They appear to benefit aging neurons, leading to improvements in cell signaling.
Human studies have also yielded promising results.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, In one of these studies, nine older adults with mild cognitive impairment consumed blueberry juice every day. After 12 weeks, they experienced improvements in several markers of brain function.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, A 6-year study in over 16,000 older individuals found that blueberries and strawberries were linked to delays in mental aging by up to 2.5 years.
8. Anthocyanins In Blueberries May Have Anti-Diabetes Effects
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Blueberries provide moderate amounts of sugar compared to other fruits.
One cup (148 grams) holds 15 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to a small apple or medium-sized orange.
However, the bioactive compounds in blueberries appear to outweigh any negative impact of the sugar when it comes to managing blood sugar.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Research suggests that anthocyanins in blueberries have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. These anti-diabetes effects have been observed with both fresh and freeze-dried berries.
In a study in 32 obese people with insulin resistance, two blueberry smoothies daily caused major improvements in insulin sensitivity.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries, Improved insulin sensitivity may lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, which are associated with a range of negative health outcomes.
Also Read:
The 8 Best Benefits Of Grapefruit For Health
The Best Fruits For Constipation In Adults And Children + Constipating Fruits
The Best 10 Benefits Of Kiwi Fruit
6 Of The Best Fruits For Diabetics (Based On Sugar and Nutrients)
