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What are The Blueberry Nutrition Facts? | Blueberry Health Benefits | Blueberry Nutrition Facts

Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries. Species in the section Cyanococcus are the most common fruits sold as “blueberries” and are mainly native to North America. They are usually erect but sometimes prostrate shrubs varying in size from 10 centimetres to 4 metres tall. In commercial blueberry production, smaller species are known as “lowbush blueberries” , and the larger species as “highbush blueberries”.Ever tasted a Blue Berry? Liked its tangy taste? Yes? Then you will like them more once you finish reading this stuff.

New research suggests blueberries are a great way to naturally lower risk factors for cancers, enhance your memory, and achieve the optimal health we should all be striving for.Before we proceed, let me give you a short introduction of Blue Berries, for those who have never tasted or saw one and also for those who know them well.Blue Berry is a fruit belonging to Vaccinium family with two well known types. First one is the wild or the low-bush Blue Berry bearing the scientific name vaccinium angustifolium and the second one, the vaccinium corymbosum , is commonly known as the cultivated or the high-bush Blue Berry. There is one more type but that is not so well known. Its scientific name is vaccinium pallidum .

Researchers have shown that blueberry anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, flavonols, and tannins inhibit mechanisms of cancer cell development and inflammation in vitro. Similar to red grape, some blueberry species contain in their skins significant levels of resveratrol, a phytochemical.They are round and flattened in shape. They have a crown like structure at the bottom, and a depressed ring at the top of the fruit. Blueberries are usually around 1/2 inch in diameter. These berries are nativeto North America, where they grow in abundance in the mountains, forests of US and Canada. On an average, there are about 30 different varieties of blueberries available. They were not cultivated until the start of the 20th century, when they were commercially cultivated in the year 1916.

Fresh fruits, including blueberries, and vegetables contain many of these naturally occurring antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E. Blueberries contain 14 mg of Vitamin C and 0.8 mg Vitamin E per 1 cup of blueberries. In addition, blueberries contain anthocyanins and phenolics that can also act as antioxidants. Based on data from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (Boston, MA), blueberries are among the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity.

Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath family, which includes the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple black, and feature a white-gray waxy “bloom” that covers the surface serving as a protective coat.

Other Health Benefits Of Blueberry:

1.Regularly consuming blueberries helps in fighting urinary tract infections.

2.They are rich sources of soluble and insoluble fiber and contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation

3. These wonder berries provide respite against both diarrhea and constipation

4. They are also beneficial in reducing effects of age related conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia

5. Research has confirmed that blueberries not only slow the aging process but also reverse it

6.A compound found in blueberries called the pterostilbene, has been found to develop into a nutraceutical for lowering cholesterol

7.If consumed regularly, these berries have shown to improve night time vision and promote quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare

8.Immunity: Blue Berries, being very rich in anti oxidants like Anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper (a very effective immune builder and anti-bacterial), selenium, zinc, iron (promotes immunity by raising haemoglobin and oxygen concentration in blood) etc. boost up your immune system and prevent infections. Once your immunity is strong, you won’t catch colds, fever, pox and all such nasty viral and bacterial communicable diseases.

9.Various experiments conducted have also indicated that eating blueberries improves short term memory loss and improves balance and coordination

10.Cancer: Blue Berries can prove to be bliss for the cancer patients, for they contain certain compounds like Pterostilbene (excellent remedy for colon and liver cancer) and Ellagic Acid which, in harmony with Anthocyanin and other anti oxidants like vitamin-C and copper, can do miracles to prevent and cure cancer.

11. They contain chemicals that are believed to decrease the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells by a considerable percentage

12.These berries are rich in an anti-cancer agent, several, which helps combat the fatal disease

11. Blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants. The antioxidants play a pivotal role in keeping our body healthy and young. They help fight free radicals of the body, which damage the cells of the body as we grow older. They may also result in the degeneration of the DNA. Blueberries provide protection against the same.

12.Other benefits and facts: They keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp, close to nature and in a good mood, as they are very good anti depressants. You also need not spend a lot on medicines, neither are there any side effects. Here, there is an interesting thing to know. The deeper the color of the Blue Berries, the more they are rich in anti oxidants and other medicinal values.

13. Heart Disease: The high fiber content, those brilliant anti oxidants and the ability to dissolve the ‘bad cholesterol’ make the Blue Berry an ideal dietary supplement to cure many heart diseases. It also strengthens the cardiac muscles.