Blueberries are the perfect fruit to incorporate into any meal. Try them as toppers on yogurt or oatmeal or to add a bright pop of sweetness in a spinach salad. Besides being delicious, blueberries are also jam-packed with nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that provide an array of incredible health benefits—from giving your skin a natural glow to keeping your heart healthy. Here are 6 astounding ways blueberries can improve your health.
- They Cheer You Up
The pop of flavor and lovely hue of these little berries would enough to cheer anyone up, but if you need more convincing, a double-blind placebo-controlled study should do the trick. In a study of children and young adults, researchers found that participants who ate two cups of blueberries showed significant increases in positive moods, like enthusiasm and attentiveness, just two hours later. [1] If you’re feeling some summertime sadness, cheer yourself up with a few handfuls of our farm-fresh blueberries.
- They Improve Cardiovascular Health
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States and we can all benefit from improving our cardiovascular health. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating a cup of blueberries daily can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by close to 15%. Scientists believe this might be because they are loaded with anthocyanins—the natural compounds that give berries their red and blue coloring.[2]
- They Help Keep Bones Strong
Bones need a diverse supply of vitamins and minerals to maintain their strength and vitality: they require iron, zinc, vitamin K, phosphorus, calcium magnesium, and manganese. Luckily, blueberries contain all of these compounds! Eating them daily will provide you with a broad array of nutrients to help keep your bones strong. [3]
- They Protect Against Aging and Keep Skin Glowing
Blueberries are packed with antioxidants—perhaps more than any other common fruit. These antioxidants protect you against free radicals which cause aging and skin damage.[4] Incorporating these mighty little berries into your daily routine can help keep your skin youthful and glowing, while protecting it from all that summer sun.[5] You can ingest them daily, or even make a luxurious face mask that your skin will thank you for.
- They Improve Cognition
Blueberries have been found to improve cognition in older adults as well as children. A cup of blueberries was shown to improve cognition in children within hours[6] and for older adults, they may help with long-term memory. [7] Incorporating berries into your family’s meals can help keep everyone’s minds in tip-top shape.
- They May Prevent Cancer and Cataracts
Free radicals that damage cells are known to contribute to chronic health problems like cancer and cataracts. Antioxidants stop damage by free radicals and can protect against chronic diseases. Notably, synthetic antioxidants have been found to be dangerous to humans which means we need to get antioxidants in our diets through natural compounds, like those found in fresh fruit. [8] Our organic blueberries are a perfect, and delicious, source of antioxidants to fight free radicals and protect your body from chronic disease.
Inspired to eat blueberries daily after reading about their health benefits? ORDER HERE and have freshly-picked organic Chelan Beauty blueberries delivered to your doorstep.
[1]Khalid S, Barfoot KL, May G, Lamport DJ, Reynolds SA, Williams CM. Effects of Acute Blueberry Flavonoids on Mood in Children and Young Adults. Nutrients. 2017;9(2):E158.
[2]University of East Anglia. "Eating blueberries every day improves heart health." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 May 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190530101221.htm>.
[3] Ware, Megan. “Blueberries: Health Benefits, Facts, and Research.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 5 Sept. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287710.php.
[4]Ames BN, Shigenaga MK, Hagen TM. Oxidants, antioxidants, and the degenerative diseases of aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1993;90:7915–7922. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.17.7915.
[5]Lappe, Sydney. “The Beautiful Benefits Blueberries Can Have on Your Skin.” BistroMD, BistroMD, 4 Aug. 2016, www.bistromd.com/health-tips/the-beautiful-benefits-blueberries-can-have-on-your-skin.
[6]Whyte AR, Schafer G, Williams CM. Cognitive effects following acute wild blueberry supplementation in 7- to 10-year-old children. Eur J Nutr. 2016;55(6):2151-62.
[7]Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, et al. Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. J Agric Food Chem. 2010;58(7):3996-4000.
[8]Lobo, V et al. “Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health.” Pharmacognosy reviews vol. 4,8 (2010): 118-26. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902
