Blueberry season is almost approaching. But this delicious, flare-crowned indigo superfruit is much than simply a tantalizing treat for your yearning senses. Would you imagine that this favorite has a variety of micronutrients that not only protect the body from illnesses, but also from aging?
High Antioxidant Value
Blueberries have the greatest overall antioxidant content of any food, along with blackberries, strawberries, and plums. It is considered a “superfruit” because of its promising mix of dietary content, increasing study evidence for health benefits, adaptability for making popular consumer items, and antioxidant strength.
Antioxidants are supposed to help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals on cells as well as the chronic illnesses linked with the aging process. The antioxidants in this fruit may preserve the cell, reducing the possibility of aging. 1 cup of blueberries contains 14 milligrams of vitamin C and 0.8 mg of vitamin E. Blueberries also include antioxidants such as anthocyanins and phenolics. Blueberries have several skin benefits as a result of this.
Neuron Protection
The chemical anthocyanin, present in blueberries, is expected to delay age-related declines in human brain function. Those who consume more blueberries are likely to do better in motor behavioral learning and memory. Blueberries’ color is also due to anthocyanin, which may be the major element in their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. While it is believed that aging might impair cognitive and motor abilities, blueberries can significantly boost mental performance.
Better balance and coordination
Blueberries may also help with balance and coordination. Dr. James Joseph of Tufts University discovered that a diet high in blueberries counteracted the aging-related loss of balance and coordination. Joseph provided four groups of rats a typical diet in this research, which was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. However, blueberries, spinach, or strawberries were given to these groups.
The rats were examined for mental ability, physical strength, coordination, and balance over the course of 18 weeks. The two groups that were given strawberry and blueberry extracts fared well on these tests, but the blueberry group performed the best.
Blueberries also boosted the neural functioning of rats, according to the research. Dr. Joseph believes the results are due to blueberries’ high concentration of flavonoids, which are polyphenols that affect cell membranes. These results imply that dietary supplementation may provide hope to people suffering from aging-related impaired balance and coordination.
Prevention of diseases
A serving of blueberries has a low glycemic load and a diverse range of nutrients, which means fewer calories (good news for calorie-watchers) in a serving full of phytochemicals and nutrients like iron, vitamins C and E. The presence of phytochemicals may also reduce the risk of contracting some deadly diseases.
This wonderful fruit’s anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, and tannins may help prevent cancer by inhibiting some cancer mechanisms. These components protect the DNA from free radical damage and disintegration.
There have been reports at a symposium on berry health benefits that eating blueberries and other similar fruits like cranberries may improve cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease and other aging conditions. Blueberries may help reduce the effects of a stroke.
Blueberries have also been shown in studies to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTI), hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, all of which can lead to potentially fatal heart disease.
Your tongue, and more importantly, your health, would benefit from blueberries. Even without all of these advantages, who wouldn’t kill for a serving of blueberries? Hmmmm… Anyone?