Exciting Health News About Blueberries
Contributed by: Chris WebAdmin. of RecipesNow.com
Blueberries have long been prized as a great tasting
fruit that is low in calories, virtually fat
free and a good source of fiber and vitamin C. Today, there is even more reason to love
blueberries-the growing evidence that they are powerful disease-fighters. Here's what we have
learned so far.
Researchers at Tufts University in Boston have found that blueberries rank #1 in antioxidant
activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help neutralize
harmful by-products of metabolism called "free radicals" that damage cells and increase the risk of
cancer, heart disease and other age-related conditions.
In another lab at Tufts University, neuroscientists have found that laboratory rats fed
blueberry-supplemented diets experienced less deterioration in memory function, balance and
coordination as they aged. They also observed actual reversals in motor behavior declines when
aged rats were fed blueberries.
According to scientists at the University of California at Davis, blueberries can reduce the
build-up of so-called "bad" cholesterol, the artery clogger that contributes to cardiovascular
disease and stroke.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have identified a compound in blueberries
that promotes urinary tract health and reduces the risk of infection. It appears to work by
preventing bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.
