A Prostate Cancer Journey

Monday, April 28, 2008

Six Reasons to Eat Blueberries

Any way you buy them - fresh, frozen or dried - blueberries are packed with nutritional power.
If you need any reason other than their taste to snack on blueberries, keep these nutritional vignettes in mind:
Anthocyanins – the pigments that make blueberries blue - are potent antioxidants: A half cup of blueberries provides the antioxidant power of five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli.
Berries are a healthy, low glycemic-index carbohydrate, an especially good choice for diabetics.
Blueberries are a source of vitamin C, important for a healthy immune system.
Blueberries offer two grams of fiber per one-half cup serving.
Blueberries have shown promise in addressing the effects of aging: animal studies have shown improved motor skills and a reversal of age-related short-term memory loss.
Blueberries may have health benefits ranging from preventing cancer and defending against urinary tract infections to protecting the brain from stroke damage and reducing heart disease risks.

Look for organic blueberries at your local produce stand, and toss some in a salad, on cereal, as a snack, or make a blueberry pie. If fresh organic blueberries are cost prohibitive, substitute with frozen or dried blueberries - all three forms provide health-protective benefits. Keep in mind that dried blueberries are a concentrated source of sugar, so enjoy them in moderation.
....from Dr. Weil website