Blueberries are loaded with proanthocyanidin, which is a natural pigment antioxidant that is also found in sweet potatoes. The blueberry is native to North America and folk medicine has long touted its extended life expectancy and other health benefits of blueberries.
My whole family loves blueberries. I eat them nearly every morning and think they make a great addition to my morning shake made with my green superfoods powder. But it’s not all about the taste.
Nutritional Benefits Of Blueberries
One of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world is blueberries, and they also have a large variety of antioxidants. Fresh blueberries contain:
- Fiber
- Gallic Acid
- Lutein
- Manganese
- Resveratrol
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Zeaxanthin
- Gallic Acid
The benefits of eating blueberries offer many nutritional elements, but gallic acid (GA) stands out for several reasons, the first being the fact that most people have never even heard of it. Second, and more importantly, GA has been thoroughly researched. In fact, nearly 6,500 peer-reviewed scientific research articles(1) referencing gallic acid have been published.
So, it’s safe to say that the health benefits of gallic acid are anything but experimental. And, finally, research shows that gallic acid is a strong antifungal/anti-viral agent and an active antioxidant.
These three things combined make GA-rich foods like blueberries a powerful natural remedy.
7 Health Benefits Of Blueberries
Now that you know all about the nutritional benefits of eating blueberries, I’m sure you understand just how hard it was to narrow down the top health benefits to just seven. After some extensive research, however, I am confident that this list does the tasty purple fruit justice.
Anti-Aging Power Of Blueberries
When it comes to keeping Father Time at bay, antioxidants are your friend. They work to reverse the harm done by pollutants and free radicals and help your body guard against hazardous pathogens. Not only are blueberries rich in antioxidants as a whole, they are particularly rich in proanthocyanidins, which have shown extra anti-aging characteristics in numerous animal tests.
Much of the research has shown the capacity of proanthocyanidins to reverse inflammation, the number one cause of long-lasting disease on the planet. Inflammation takes its toll on the body like no other and causes heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and almost every illness known to man.
Fight Cancer With Berries
Clinical research has found that, unlike radiation and chemotherapy strategies, GA-rich foods like blueberries can kill cancer without harming healthy cells! For example, the Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology published a paper evaluating the anticancer properties gallic acid has on breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Scientists have discovered that GA slows, and even destroys, breast cancer.
In this study, however, researchers were able to separate the mechanism to two cross-link pathways, which suggests that gallic acid treatments are a more thorough approach to cancer treatment.
Blueberries Aid Digestion
As a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber that is found in nature, the benefits of eating blueberries aid in regulating your gastrointestinal tract. This can be accomplished by eating a couple of handfuls of blueberries a day.
For example, a University of Maine researcher, Vivian Chi-Hua Wu, states that the, “Addition of lowbush wild blueberries (LWB) to diets can alter the balance of gut microbe in favor of members of the Actinobacteria phylum.”
Wu and her team found that wild blueberries have prebiotic potential, which encourages the development of good bacteria in the colon and provides proper digestion and other health benefits.
Heart Healthy Berries
The periodical Circulation printed a report that said eating strawberries and blueberries at the same time has a powerful effect that actually decreases the threat of heart attack by as much as 33 percent. After conducting research with more than 93,000 women ages 25 to 42, they did not observe this type of benefit in other antioxidants.
Improved Mental Health
Since blueberries contain a large amount of phenols, mostly gallic acid, they are said to act as “neuroprotective agents.” According to scholars from Iran, this means blueberries can protect our brains from neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, and oxidative stress.
It is exciting that the following foods are high in gallic acid are also known for their brain-enhancing abilities:
- Blackberries
- Cashews
- Grapes
- Hazelnuts
- Mangos
- Plums
- Strawberries
- Tea
- Wine
Blueberry Extract For Skin Care
Skincare products with blueberry extract are all the rage. It has been stated that the extensive spectrum of vitamins and minerals helps restore hormone equilibrium, which counteracts acne. And the heart-healthy facets of the berry can help thwart bruising.
Weight Loss With Blueberries?
Being low in calories, low on the glycemic index, and high in fiber, are three good reasons to eat blueberries to lose weight!
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Because low glycemic index foods are absorbed more slowly, they stay in your digestive tract longer. This is why these foods are sometimes called slow carbs. These foods may help control appetite and delay hunger cues, which can help with weight management. Balanced blood sugar also can help reduce the risk of insulin resistance.”
Delicious Blueberry Recipes To Try
To preserve their nutritional content, make every effort to eat blueberries in their fresh, natural form. This is not to say, however, that making my favorite blueberry buckle recipe is unhealthy for you. I just want to stress the importance of implementing raw foods into your diet to maximize their health benefits.
Here’s a brief list of some of our favorite Z-house recipes that use blueberries.
- Blueberry Vanilla Power Smoothie
- Mama Z’s Red-Green Superfood Smoothie
- Summer Berry Refreshing Smoothie
- Watermelon Fruit Basket Side Dish/Dessert
- Blueberry Lemon Muffins (Gluten-Free)
- Blueberry Buckle Dessert
- Watermelon Blueberry Fruit Salad
There’s really no wrong way to use blueberries. They are so delicious you can eat them however you want and it will be delicious.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=gallic+acid
- Maria D, et al. Gallic Acid and Related Compounds as Neuroprotective Agents: You are What You Eat! Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2014 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]
- Wu-yang Huang, et al. Survey of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry in Nanjing. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. Feb 2012; 13(2): 94–102.
- Wang K, et al. Investigation of Gallic Acid Induced Anticancer Effect in Human Breast Carcinoma MCF-7 Cells. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2014 May 27.
- Cassidy A, et al. High anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged women. Circulation. 2013 Jan 15;127(2):188-96.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at https://naturallivingfamily.com where all credits are due. Reviewed by Eric Zielinski, DC (Dr. Z)
Disclaimer
The watching, interacting, and participation of any kind with anything on this page does not constitute or initiate a doctor-patient relationship with Dr. Farrah®. None of the statements here have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products of Dr. Farrah® are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information being provided should only be considered for education and entertainment purposes only. If you feel that anything you see or hear may be of value to you on this page or on any other medium of any kind associated with, showing, or quoting anything relating to Dr. Farrah® in any way at any time, you are encouraged to and agree to consult with a licensed healthcare professional in your area to discuss it. If you feel that you’re having a healthcare emergency, seek medical attention immediately. The views expressed here are simply either the views and opinions of Dr. Farrah® or others appearing and are protected under the first amendment.
Dr. Farrah® is a highly experienced Licensed Medical Doctor certified in evidence-based clinical nutrition, not some enthusiast, formulator, or medium promoting the wild and unrestrained use of nutrition products for health issues without clinical experience and scientific evidence of therapeutic benefit. Dr. Farrah® has personally and keenly studied everything she recommends, and more importantly, she’s closely observed the reactions and results in a clinical setting countless times over the course of her career involving the treatment of over 150,000 patients.
Dr. Farrah® promotes evidence-based natural approaches to health, which means integrating her individual scientific and clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise, I refer to the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice.
Dr. Farrah® does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of any multimedia content provided. Dr. Farrah® does not warrant the performance, effectiveness, or applicability of any sites listed, linked, or referenced to, in, or by any multimedia content.
To be clear, the multimedia content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any website, video, image, or media of any kind. Dr. Farrah® hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.
