Live Longer by Simply Eating Blueberries–3 Reasons Why Blueberries are THE BEST Food!

You might be hard-pressed to find a food more perfect than blueberries.

True, Blueberry Haven has some vested interest in this topic. 

And WE know that blueberries are the most delicious food ever–but you don’t have to take our word for it, you can try any of our bestselling products as an experiment on your own (we’d highly recommend the blueberry coffee, or the sweet and tangy Blueberry Haven salsa.) Your tastebuds will thank you, of course, but there are some seriously incredible health benefits from this amazing fruit that has nothing to do with flavor!

1. Let’s talk about anthocyanin (found in blueberries)!

For a very long time, herbal medicine has been using anthocyanins to do all kinds of wonderful things–from fighting off urinary tract infections to tackling much bigger stuff, like the dreaded “C” word…cancer. This is because of anthocyanin’s antioxidant effects. Not only does it fight free-radicals and damaged DNA (preventing cancer) in our bodies but it also has anti-inflammatory effects. (Blueberries are both a lover and a fighter if you’re picking up what we’re laying down!) Helpful not only in healing but also in preventing disease, the blueberry’s key component “may also help prevent high blood pressure (a major risk factor for heart disease), according to a 2011 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” (Wong, C., 2018.)

2. Blueberries bring a lot to the table…but only a little to your waistline.

They are a nutrient dense food, full of good stuff…but NOT full of calories. Win/Win! According to HealthLine, a serving of just one cup of blueberries contains:

    • Fiber: 4 grams
    • Vitamin C: 24% of the RDI
    • Vitamin K: 36% of the RDI
    • Manganese: 25% of the RDI
  • Small amounts of various other nutrients

Yet, that cup of blueberries only contains around 85 calories! GUESS WHAT? Just reading this last sentence, you’ve saved so many calories that you’ve now earned yourself some blueberry scones. Go get ’em!

3. Blueberries keep you happy. (Literally.)

Here at Blueberry Haven, the sight of fresh blueberries always makes us smile, but there’s a deeper reason why eating blueberries keeps your brain healthy.

Because the nutrients in blueberries aid in cognition, memory, and anti-inflammation in the brain, they help to keep you aware and productive… AND they boost overall mood. If you’re like many folks in Michigan who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, the lack of sunshine in the winter can really get you down. And more than any other type of blueberry, we love MICHIGAN blueberries. That’s why we offer frozen Michigan blueberries year round in the store–so you can always get that healthy fix, straight from the mitten.

Are you a believer? 

We hope you’ll harness the power of blueberries and there’s no better place in West Michigan to do that than Blueberry Haven. Stop by the store today to pick up some amazing blueberry products, or browse our recipes for ways to incorporate more of these amazing little fruits into your diet!

May we suggest Chili Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Dried Blueberries?

Blueberry Haven's Chili-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Dried Blueberries Recipe

 

References

Borreli, L. (2017). 6 Benefits of Eating Blueberries for Brain Health. Medical Daily.

Gill, K, MD. (2017). Everything You Need to Know About Blueberries. Medical News Today.

Leech, J., MS. (2018). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Blueberries. Healthline.

Wong, C. (2018). target=”_blank”The Benefits of Anthocyanins. Very Well Health.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *