Blueberries are more than just berries. It is rightly categorized under superfoods due to the health benefits that it offer. Its low-calorie count further adds to its popularity.
Moreover, you can add blueberries to a wide variety of dishes, starting from refreshing salads, adding a handful to your frozen yogurt to indulging in a sinful blueberry cheesecake.
Read on to know the top 8 health benefits of blueberries:
A powerhouse of Antioxidants: Blueberries get it “blue” color due to the presence of the antioxidant, anthocyanin. In comparison with other fruits and vegetables, blueberries contain the maximum amount of antioxidants, which helps in getting rid of the free radicals in your body and also protect it from severe ailments like cancer. Additionally, the regular consumption of blueberries will help in protecting you from digestive and neurodegenerative diseases.
Boost to the Immune System: Studies suggest that blueberries contain flavonoids and pterostilbene, which gives a boost to the immune system. While flavonoids provide protection against common cold and cough, pterostilbene enhances the human gene, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide’s activity, thereby boosting the immune system.
Endorser of Healthy Heart: Our heart is a vital organ and it is essential that we maintain a healthy heart. And for a healthy heart, we need to keep a check on cholesterol. The antioxidants and flavonoids in blueberries help in reducing the risks associated with heart diseases by keeping a check on the levels of cholesterol and thereby preventing clogging of the arteries.
The promoter of Brain Health: Blueberries offer a wide range of health benefits due to its high nutrient content along with flavonoids and antioxidants. It also contains compounds that promote the health of your brain and help in slowing down age-related cognitive diseases like Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, blueberries also help in improving memory power.
Regulator of blood sugar levels: For diabetes patients or those who are resistant to insulin, blueberries have proved to be beneficial in regulating the sugar levels in the blood. It is the low glycemic index of these berries which helps in keeping a check on blood sugar when consumed regularly.
Provides dietary fibers: Blueberries are packed with fibers, vitamins, and minerals, which provide a wide range of health benefits, including aid in digestion. The fiber content of a cup of blueberries is pretty much the same as that of a small apple and the best part is that it contains less sugar too, making it a superfood!
Minimizes effects of High-Fat Diets: Blueberries are acidic in nature. And, according to studies, this acidic nature is said to lessen the adverse effects associated with diets that contain fat in higher levels. Moreover, blueberries are also beneficial for obesity-related conditions like inflammation and high blood pressure.
Infection controller: Blueberries are said to contain properties that help in preventing urinary tract infections, which is pretty common in women. These properties are similar to cranberries, and just like cranberries, blueberries prevent the bacteria from binding to the urinary bladder, thereby preventing the infection from happening.
