By Donna V. Scaglione
Few foods can beat the health benefits that come from eating berries. There is a good reason they often are called a superfood. Berries are full of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and other nutrients vital for good health. As if that wasn’t enough, berries contain compounds that have been shown to improve brain function, slow the growth of certain cancers, and even reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Enjoy berries fresh or frozen. Add them to peanut butter sandwiches and salads, or enjoy a bowl topped with a dollop of low-fat vanilla yogurt. Nutrition experts say the more you eat, the better.
Blueberries for heart health
These little berries apparently pack a healthy wallop against diabetes and metabolic syndrome, according to researchers from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, who studied rats fed freeze-dried blueberries crushed into powder. The scientists credit the naturally occurring antioxidants in the berries, known as phytochemicals, with the health improvements seen in the rats. They had lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels, less abdominal fat, and were more efficient at processing glucose for energy compared to a control group, Science Daily reports.
Research also has shown that eating blueberries can significantly lower blood pressure, may help protect our memories, and could prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people older than 60.
