Researchers have found that blueberries are the richest in antioxidant activity as compared with 60 other fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanidins (the pigment that makes blueberries blue) is among the most adundant antioxidants found in these delicious little berries. It is these anthocyanidins that give blueberries their ability to neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues. Blueberries are also high in flavonoids, and known for their free-radical scavenging properties. The nutritional profile of blueberries makes them one of nature's most ideal fruits. They are very high in Vitamin C, and Manganese, a good source of Vitamin E, and an excellent source of dietary fiber.
Resources:
Results in vivo: "...four weeks of blueberry juice intervention led to a significant increase in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma." ~ Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis Volume 582, Issues 1-2, 4 April 2005, Pages 155-162
"...evidence from our lab indicate that fruits and vegetables, in particular blueberry (BB) extracts, are able to ameliorate age-related declines in neuronal and cognitive function." ~ Nutritional Neuroscience, Volume 3, Issue 6 December 2000 , pages 383 – 397
"...flavonoid-rich fruits of the North American cranberry and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) have the potential ability to limit the development and severity of certain cancers and vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging." ~ Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, Special Issue: Berry Fruits, Volume 51, Issue 6, pages 652–664, June 2007 |
