Health Properties of Blueberries

Blueberries truly are a wonder fruit. They are higher in antioxidants than any other fruit and provide numerous health benefits when eaten regularly. Blueberries are packed full of vitamins and fiber, help prevent cancer, aid in digestion and combat aging and heart disease. Moreover, blueberries taste great and are an easy food to include in most diets. Generally, the darker the color of the blueberry, the more antioxidants it contains.

Antioxidants promote good health by neutralizing the damaging effects of free radicals on the cells. According to the USDA, blueberries contain more antioxidants than any other fruit. The primary antioxidant activity comes from the presence of Anthocyanin, which is the pigment that gives blueberries their color. Blueberries are also high in vitamin C, which has long been known to be a natural antioxidant.

Blueberries are sometimes referred to as "brain berries," due to their remarkably positive effects on the aging process. The antioxidants in blueberries, when combined with their anti-inflammatory properties, help protect the brain and fight degeneration. Blueberries have shown to improve memory, strengthen blood vessels, relieve symptoms of arthritis, and promote heart health. Some evidence even shows that regular consumption of blueberries may help prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Blueberries contain a compound called epicatechin that inhibits the growth of certain bacteria, including those responsible for most urinary tract infections. The antibiotic action of blueberries works to encourage bacteria to move through the urinary tract, preventing them from colonizing and causing an infection. According to researchers at Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth, New Jersey, blueberries are at least as effective as cranberries as a natural treatment for infections of the urinary tract.

The antioxidants and vitamins in blueberries are extremely beneficial to eye health. Eating blueberries reduces the risk of numerous eye disorders, including age-related ocular disorders such as macular degeneration, cataracts and myopia. Blueberries may also prevent dry eyes and eye infections. The compound anthocyanin in blueberries is believed to offer the most benefit to eyesight.

Blueberries work in two ways on the digestive system; they ease constipation and improve overall digestion. The fiber in blueberries helps prevent constipation when the berries are eaten regularly and in large amounts. The combination of sugar, vitamins, and sodium in blueberries works to keep the digestive process moving, which helps prevent gastrointestinal disorders in general.

The health properties of blueberries, notably the combination of Anthocyanin, copper, and vitamin C, are beneficial in preventing and treating a variety of cancers. Colon and liver cancers are helped by certain compounds, such as Pterostilbene, found in blueberries. The antioxidant properties of blueberries help prevent cancer by protecting against damage to cells and DNA.

The effects of blueberries on heart disease are due primarily to the berry's ability to strengthen cardiac muscles and lower bad cholesterol levels. The British Heart Foundation states that the potent antioxidant effects of blueberries are responsible for lowering levels of LDL in adults. Blueberries have even shown to be more effective at fighting high cholesterol than many prescription medications, according to researchers at the USDA.