Blueberries rank just as highly in healthiness as they do in taste. Blueberries are most nutritious when eaten raw, as a baking temperature of 350 ℉ or higher will damage their vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants. Nevertheless, they are still nutritious in baked goods as well (did someone say blueberry muffins?). Read on to find out more about why you should feed your body this delicious fruit!
1. Flavonoids (polyphenols with antioxidant properties), and more specifically, anthocyanins, are abundant in blueberries, and they neutralize free radicals in your body to prevent structural damage to cells. These antioxidants are believed to slow the physical aging process and help prevent cancer. Blueberries are believed to have the highest antioxidant level out of all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables! 2. The antioxidants in blueberries also prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (harmful cholesterol), helping in turn to prevent heart disease. 3. Although one cup of blueberries contains 15 grams of sugar, research suggests that the anthocyanins prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity, thus helping lower your risk of Type 2 Diabetes. 4. Blueberries are a great source of fiber, measuring in at 3.6 grams per cup, and they therefore will help your digestive track move things along. 5. Blueberries are rich in Gallic acid, an antioxidant that helps prevent fungi and viruses from making you ill. Gallic acid may also soothe inflammatory diseases like asthma because it inhibits the release of histamines and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. There are many, many other health benefits associated with blueberries, such as improved eye sight and memory. The levels of antioxidants in these berries are astounding and we can attribute most of the health benefits to these antioxidants. So, next time you grab some blueberries, don’t worry about their calorie count or how many minutes of exercise you need to do to burn them off...rest in the knowledge that you are doing your body a great service by eating some delicious berries!
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