Health Advantages of Blueberries

Blueberries may not be one of the tastiest berries around, but these small-sized fruits take pride as being a powerhouse of nutrients and vitamins. Tracing their origin to North America, blueberries are widely grown across the globe nowadays, with the blueberry tree attaining a maximum height of about four meters.

Nutritional Benefits

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants among them vitamin A, C, and B complex. In addition, they contain important minerals such as iron, zinc and selenium. The berry’s blue pigment contains anthocyanin and is one of the reasons these fruits are overly nutritious.

Improves Digestion and Helps Deal with Constipation

The roughage (fiber) content in blueberries can help prevent constipation. A handful of these berries contain and assortment of vitamins, copper, fructose and acids that help enhance digestion by stimulating the correct amount of gastric and digestive juices to enable smooth and safe movement of food through the gastrointestinal system.

Brain Function, Memory, and the Alzheimer’s Disease

The anthocyanin, selenium alongside the vitamins A, B-complex, C and E and minerals such as sodium, copper, magnesium and phosphorous can prevent and even completely heal neurotic disorders. They do so by inhibiting the degeneration and death of neurons. In addition, these essential nutrients shield the brain cells from damage and aid in the restoration of the central nervous system. To some extent, these berries can help reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The content in blueberries is believed to have the ability of healing damaged brain cells and neuron to improve your memory for a long time.

Prevents Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection is caused by the formation of certain bacterial colonies such E-coli along the lining of the urinary tract. This in turn causes inflammation coupled with a burning sensation when urinating. Blueberries contain compounds composed of polymer-like molecules that inhibit the growth and subsequent multiplication of the E-coli bacteria. Apart from that, the antibiotic properties in these berries help suppress the effects of these bacteria further by scrubbing it off the urinary tract walls.

Eye Care and Macular Degeneration

If you want to get rid of spectacles or contact lenses drinking blueberry juice on a regular basis could be your best bet. Equally, if you want ensure you don’t undergo surgery for eye related problem make blueberries part of your regular diet. This because these berries can help prevent or delay of the onset of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and myopia as well as hypermetropia thanks to their antioxidant properties.

Macular degeneration is a serious eye condition that leads to the damage of the retina and can cause partial or total blindness. Blueberries have a unique group of antioxidants referred to as carotenoids and other antioxidant compounds such as vitamin A, C, and E as well as selenium that have positive effects on eye health.

Boosts Immunity

The many antioxidants in blueberries and minerals such as iron, copper and zinc combine to enable the body form a strong and effective immune system. The compounds also help raise hemoglobin levels and oxygen concentration in the blood, two factors that can incredibly boost the immune system to keep infections and by extension diseases at bay.

Maintains a Healthy Cardiovascular System

The fiber content and the antioxidants in blueberry can help dissolve the bad cholesterol in the blood. This increases the arteries’ ability to transport blood around the body. Also, blueberries are an excellent supplement to cure a number of heart diseases while increasing the cardiac muscles strength.

Reduces Cancer Risk

For cancer patients, blueberries may be extremely valuable for they are loaded with unique compounds such as Pterostilbene and Ellagic acid that are excellent for reducing the effects of colon cancer. Together with Anthocyanin and other antioxidants the berries can lower the risk of cancer altogether.

Other Benefits

Blueberries can increase your vigor and vitality and are good antidepressants for very mild cases of depression. They can also keep you in a good mood, fit and sharp.

With so many health benefits of blueberries, it is easy to figure out why the fruits have been labeled as a “superfood”. While the berries can be juiced alone, they may be a little tart and you may consider adding other fruits into the juicer such as strawberries, apples, grapes and pineapple to enhance the taste and improve the nutritional content.

Here is a great recipe that incorporates blueberries that is both delicious and nutritious. For those who may be curious, the juicer in this video is the Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain.