11 Amazing Health Benefits of Blueberries
What Are Blueberries? Plump, sweet, and juicy. Blueberries are those little berries with indigo and deep purple hues. Science discovers more about these pretty berries and how vital they are. Blueberries have many undeniable health benefits, causing them to be called “superfoods.” Blueberries make great snacks and can be used for numerous blueberry recipes. Such as blueberry…
What Are Blueberries?
Plump, sweet, and juicy. Blueberries are those little berries with indigo and deep purple hues. Science discovers more about these pretty berries and how vital they are. Blueberries have many undeniable health benefits, causing them to be called “superfoods.” Blueberries make great snacks and can be used for numerous blueberry recipes. Such as blueberry smoothies, blueberry salads, and even blueberry desserts! Blueberries are mainly in season during summer. However, you can still find them throughout the year! Additionally, you can always find frozen blueberries in the freezer part of the grocery store any time of the year! The best thing about blueberries is that they have tons of amazing health benefits! And they are referred to as super food! Today we shall be looking at health benefits of blueberries.
Wild versions of this fruit have been indigenous to North America for over 13,000 years. They haven’t been cultivated all that long, however, everyone is clamoring for them, especially my husband. My husband just loves blueberries, and well, I do too! These small but mighty little berries are full of nutrition and sweet flavors that are perfect for snacks and tons of recipes. In fact, I’ve included some of my favorite blueberry-based creations below. In the meantime, you can get to know more about how beneficial blueberries can be for your health!
When Are Blueberries in Season?
Depending on where you live, you may experience a longer blueberry season. However, for most of the country, that harvest time is from April to late September. Summer is the perfect time for these berries when they are fully in their prime. Grab some and let me tell you how good these little things are for you! You can’t go wrong with this refreshing blueberry watermelon salad!
11 Health Benefits of Blueberries!
Just in case you needed more reasons to chow down on blueberries, here are 11 health benefits you get by eating them.
1. Top-Notch Nutrition
Blueberries are considered the king of superfruits. They have tons of vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as manganese and copper.
2. Antioxidants – Health Benefits of Blueberries
Let me go back to the nutrition thing here and highlight the antioxidant content in blueberries. With so many antioxidants, you’re protecting your body from free radicals that tend to bring on chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. In particular, they have flavonoids, and if you want to improve the availability of this precious polyphenol, you should freeze it (which makes it perfect for smoothies)!
3. Blueberries Help Your Gut Health
Fiber is important for gut health, and blueberries pack quite a punch of it. Eating blueberries can protect your intestines from inflammation. When you eat them with probiotics such as on top of your yogurt, you get the best benefits of all.
4. Protects Your DNA
Oxidative stress and free radicals can destroy your DNA which can make you age and more prone to diseases. But with those little blueberries, you can stop these damages. It’s never too late to start; this study shows how blueberries can intervene in DNA damage.
5. Eating Blueberries Lowers Blood Pressure
If you read my recent post about blood pressure, you’ll know how dangerous it is when your BP is high. This is a huge factor for heart disease, but having blueberries has been linked in this study to lowering blood pressure.
6. Health Benefits of Blueberries Includes Improving Concentration
Having trouble concentrating on your tasks at work? Have some blueberries and you’ll have more mindpower. It’s thought that the flavonoids in blueberries play a role in strengthening your mental focus.
7. Reduced Risk for Heart Disease
Heart disease takes so many lives, and if you want to avoid being a statistic of one of the leading causes of death, having blueberries is a smart move. Blueberries can improve the health of your arteries and keep things moving along thanks to anthocyanins, another type of flavonoid. Check this source to learn more about how blueberries can reduce the risk factors for heart disease!
8. Helps Your Brain Stay Healthy
Blueberries also have phytochemicals in them which can help reverse age-related troubles affecting short and long-term memory. Studies about this have been fascinating, and while there’s much more to learn, some findings are encouraging, showing that blueberries may be a helpful and delicious way to keep the mind young.
9. Blueberries Can Keep Blood Sugar Under Control
Blueberries, like all fruits, contain sugar, though the anthocyanins in blueberries can be helpful in controlling your blood sugar levels. They can be great after eating loads of carbs too, preventing your blood sugar from spiking.
10. Prevents Bad Cholesterol from Oxidizing
LDL cholesterol, known as the bad guy in the world of cholesterol, can oxidize leading to heart disease and other health problems. With blueberries, you can lower LDL oxidation in your body and reduce your risks.
11. Recover More Quickly After Exercise with Blueberries!
And finally, blueberries may help your muscles recover after those tough workouts. More research is needed, some findings seem to show that having blueberries before and after workouts accelerates the recovery of your muscles.
Must-Try Nutritious Blueberry Recipes:
Blueberry Strawberry Spinach Salad
Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Swirl Oat Bars
Health Benefits of Blueberries FAQs:
Eating blueberries every day is great for your health since they can help reduce your risk for chronic diseases, keep your heart healthy, reduce blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels.
Unfortunately, blueberries do have a downside if you eat too many of them. With all that fiber, eating too many of these little berries may cause digestive problems like gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
If you take medications for diabetes, eating blueberries may cause your blood sugar levels to go too low. Any time you’re on any medication, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor about any foods or nutrients that could interfere with your health.
Yes, you’ll have some tummy trouble if you go wild and eat too many of these blissful berries. Follow the guidelines and keep it to 1 to 2 cups per day.
If you are prone to kidney stones, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about whether or not you should eat them. Blueberries have high levels of oxalates which can contribute to more kidney stones, however, that only seems to be the case when you eat too many of them.
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Stay well, safe and keep living your life to the fullest!
Loved reading this. Big blueberry fans over here, and now even bigger! Thank you!
D and B
Thanks for reading, D and B! Glad you like it!
great recipe, will try without further delay
I love blueberries. They quench my sweet tooth craving. I’m so glad they have health benefits that I wasn’t aware of. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Ned!!
I love blueberries and eat them often while they’re in season. I will definitely try a few of these recipes!
Thank you, Kristen!