Are Blueberries good for me?
Blueberries are the second most popular berries, the most popular being strawberries. BlueBerries popularity has grown in the recent years due to its awesome medicinal purposes. Not only do they taste great alone, but they are amazing when added to different foods and health drinks.
*Did you know that BlueBerries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities period! Yes, even among all spices, seasonings, vegetables and other fruits.
For those of you who don’t know, Antioxidants are our friends, they help by fighting free radicals within our bodies. These free radicals can cause an array of
problems including disrupting cellular structure and DNA. Blueberries have a wonderful array of medicinal properties, making them a must have for every household.
Brief History
Blueberries are mostly found growing within North America. The Native Americans were utilizing them for hundreds of years before Europeans. The natives taught the Europeans about them, and they took them back to Europe and started cultivating them over there as well. Today North America produces half of all Blueberries, somewhere around 250- 280 million pounds a year.
Blueberries became very popular around the late 90’s once information on their awesome benefits became widespread. The consumption rate nearly tripled after that time, and now BlueBerries can be found just about anywhere.
So why are blueberries good for me?
Many people are wondering why the sudden emergence in the overall consumption of Blueberries. Well, for one their antioxidant levels are through the roof. They’re excellent for nervous system and for brain health. Some studies have found that they can actually help to improve memory, as well as help to improve motor skills in children and the elderly.
Not only can they help to improve motor skills, but they also help to slow down mental degenerative issues associated with aging. On top of having a ton of antioxidants, blueberries are also packed with Vitamin K, Manganese, Vitamin C, and Fiber. They are also very low in calories, and are easily digested.
* If you want to maximize the amount of antioxidants in your blueberries, purchase organic ones!
Recent studies have shown that organic blueberries have higher total phenol antioxidants, and total anthocyanin antioxidants than those that are not organic in nature. It has also been found the antioxidant capacity is much greater in organic blueberries, then those that are not.
Blueberries Benefits For Athletes
For those of you are fitness fanatics like I am, this may give you some reason too add blueberries to your food regimen. Blueberries have been found to help cardiovascular and muscle building functions. They help to protect the body from oxidative stress, therefore increasing your ability to recover from rigorous training much faster.
Studies have found that athletes who supplement with blueberries are less prone to injuries than those who don’t. The amazing amounts of antioxidant not only help you too feel better inside, but also help you too feel better mentally. Blueberries are full nitric oxide synthase or (NOS), therefor this explains the amazing cardiovascular benefits for athletes and nonathletes.
They are also excellent for helping to maintain a proper metabolism, which can be a problem for those of you who are trying to lose weight. The blueberries 
cause a balance like a effect in the body, therefore helping you on your weight loss or muscle building journey.
Blueberries Other Benefits
Blueberry benefits for Blood Sugar
Those of you who have type 2 Diabetes, and other blood sugar imbalance issues can relate on how hard it is too maintain blood sugar balance. Well these little bad boys can help you to maintain balanced levels within the body, without you having to worry about a spike in levels.
The key is the low glycemic levels that blueberries have. They are somewhere around 39-52 range, which falls in the low G.I level rating. To reap the benefits you must consume around 3 servings of low glycemic fruits, which strawberries are also an awesome addition. Not only are they great for sugar balance but they are also full of fiber, making blueberries a powerhouse for those of you trying to keep your levels low and your tummy full at the same time.
Blueberries For Cancer Prevention
Studies have shown that Blueberries anthocyanins have the potential to help stunt the grown for colon cancer cells as well as other type of cancer cells. Since they are also very high in vitamin C, cancer patients are encouraged to eat them since Vitamin C helps to keep blood vessels firm, and helps them from bruising easily.
It’s very important to understand that blueberries must be eaten and not just consumed in juice. If do consume it in a juice, make sure that the juice is made from the blueberries themselves. Some so called blueberry juices can actually have a reverse effect on the benefits you seek. Juices with high fructose corn syrup may actually feed the cancer cells, making them grow more rapidly.
Bluberries For Eye Health
Many of you may not know this, but the retina of the eye is an area that has higher than normal risk of oxidative stress. The stress can cause severe damage and problems later on in life like cataracts and and even blindness.
The antioxidants found in blueberries can help protect against the damage. The anthocyanins in the blueberries can help prevent oxygen damage, due to things like toxins in the air. The anthocyanins can also help to prevent damage due to sunlight exposure, that can really cause damage throughout the years.
Final note
Remember that organic blueberries have higher antioxidant properties than those that aren’t, but this still doesn’t mean that conventional blueberries aren’t good. If you can purchase organic ones, do so. But if you not able to purchase organic ones due to higher costs, then get what you can afford.
If you get conventional blueberries, make sure you clean them off well before you consume them. Soak them in vinegar for about 10 minutes to take away the toxins that water cannot take off. Then rinse them off with cold water before you eat them too take off the vinegar.
A good video I found on the benefits of blueberries
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