Who would have thought that these small little blue and purple colored berries are packed with so much goodness? Blueberries are gaining popularity as the food of gods as they have very less number of calories and are packed with many minerals and vitamins. They are convenient to store and eat and hence are readily available. There are so many benefits of eating blueberries you will be surprised.
High in Antioxidants
There are many free radicals present in our body which are harmful for us. To counter these free radicals we need to increase our intake of antioxidants. Presence of radicals leads to development of cancer cells and accelerates the process of aging. Blueberries are the richest source of antioxidants present in any fruit. The health benefits of the antioxidant called flavonoids, are many fold. It is present in abundance in blueberries and releases a large number of antioxidants into your body thus protecting it from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Prevents Bad Cholesterol from Accumulating
Free radicals cause damage not only to the cells but also to the blood. When we eat a lot of junk food the LDL is formed in our bodies. Due to the presence of free radicals it begins to get oxidized and also circulated in the body. This gets accumulated in our blood stream causing many heart diseases. Blueberries are high antioxidants that can significantly bring down the levels of LDL. Eating a cup full of blueberries everyday will be beneficial in keeping your heart healthy and prevent your blood from getting damaged.
Packed With Good Nutrients
Very few fruits are known to pack in as many nutrients as blueberries have. They are known to be very high in manganese, vitamin k, vitamin c, and fiber. So when you eat blueberries you take in most of the nutrients that your body requires and those which are recommended for your healthy living every day. Also it is interesting to note that the water content of the blueberries is very high, hence you will not be adding any calories by eating them.
Enhances Memory
Blueberries have lots of benefits when it comes to improving the working of the cells in the brain. The antioxidants present in these berries will prevent the free radicals from damaging the neurons present in the brain. In fact the will accelerate the way the signals are passed on in the brain thus resulting in increased intelligence. Blueberry juice has been found to be particularly beneficial for the elderly as it has been helpful in treating patients who had mild form of cognitive impairment.
Controls Blood Sugar
Eating blueberries will make it possible for you to keep your sugar level in check. Anthocyanins found in these berries are known to have positive effects on the insulin levels. Even though the sugar level is a little high in blueberries it will not play a spoil sport when it comes to controlling the level of glucose and sugar in your body. The antioxidant present in blueberries will make sure that the insulin level is maintained.
Other Health Effects
As we have pointed out that, blueberries are very high on antioxidants and nutrients, they will give you astonishing health benefits. They have compounds that will prevent urinary tract infection especially in women. Research has shown that blueberries can significantly lower the levels of blood pressure. It was seen that blueberries tend to control the varied symptoms in postmenopausal women. So start buying these little packs of goodness and see your lifestyle change for good. It is very easy to store blueberries. You can freeze them without causing damage to their molecular structure. Eating blueberries is good for elderly, young and children. In fact you can take blueberries in any form, like a smoothie, or in form of juice or add its extract to your cakes and cookies.