6 benefits of eating blueberries, according to science
Eating blueberries on a regular basis can bring interesting benefits to your health. The reason is the large number of antioxidants that these small blue berries have inside and that exert a beneficial role on the body. Blueberries help take care of the heart, the body, and even the mind. Do you want to know more? Keep reading and soon you will be incorporating this rich fruit of the forest into your diet.
1. Blueberries reduce the risk of heart disease
Blueberries are a good source of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, blueberries contain anthocyanins , which have been shown in studies to improve health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Anthocyanins are what give blueberries their characteristic dark blue hue.
2. They lower blood pressure
Again it is the anthocyanins that have all the prominence and, according to Harvard Health, they can help reduce blood pressure. Lower blood pressure helps to have a heart and reduces the general risk of cardiovascular diseases.
3. They lower cholesterol
Once again, anthocyanins are the heroes, and this antioxidant compound is, according to Nutrients, anti-inflammatory and can help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. And, again, it’s the heart that wins, as low levels of LDL cholesterol help reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular disease.
4. They can help you live longer
The antioxidants in blueberries have also been shown to have anti-aging properties. A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America concluded that antioxidants can help fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals are the cause of oxidative stress, which can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
5. They keep you at your weight
According to a study published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, blueberries help us maintain our weight and even reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Thanks to the large amount of fiber they contain, they facilitate digestion, are good for intestinal health and even useful for losing weight. One cup of this fruit contains 3.6 grams of fiber, which is between 12% and 14% of the daily fiber intake recommended by the American Heart Association.
6. They are good for the brain
Consuming blueberries regularly has been shown to help sharpen memory and sustain attention. Additionally, an article published by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station through Rutgers University states that blueberries help overall blood flow to the brain. When you have clogged arteries and slow blood flow to your brain, you have a higher risk of vascular dementia.
Having said all this, we must bear in mind that miracle foods do not exist and that if we want to benefit from the consumption of blueberries, our diet must be balanced and our lifestyle healthy. It will be of little use to eat blueberries and eat ultra-processed foods.
