Low in calories and loaded with flavor, blueberries have been named among the healthiest foods. Although the last day to harvest blueberries in Indiana was Sept. 1, fresh berries are still available at farmer's markets and grocery stores, and they can be frozen to last through the fall and winter.
Blueberries were deemed the "miracle berry" by Prevention Magazine in June of 1999 and then again in September of 2004 by eDining.ca because of their various health benefits.
Ronald Prior, Ph.D. conducts research out of Tufts University, where he is the head of the USDA Phytochemical Laboratory. Prior plays an important role in spreading the news about the health benefits of blueberries. In fact, he was the scientist who discovered how healthy blueberries actually are. His recommendation is for everyone to eat half a cup of bluberries each day. According to registered dietitian Holly McCord's article "Miracle Berry," the national average intake of blueberries is two and a half cups a year.
Nutritionists recommend eating five servings of fruits each day, and three-fourths of a cup of blueberries counts for one serving.
"If you add one food to your diet this year, make it blueberries," McCord, former nutrition rditor of "Prevention" and author of "Win the Cholesterol War," said. "Calorie for calorie, luscious blueberries have recently emerged as the single most ferocious food in the supermarket at halting the forces that age you."
The plant chemical anthocyanin, which gives blueberries their color, might be the healthiest anti-aging formula according Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA).
WBANA Executive director John Sauv+â-¬ said at a research summit in August 2001 that blueberries are the No. 1 antioxidant fruit.
According to Patty Russel, a registered dietitian in Muncie, the antioxidant properties in blueberries, in addition to the health benefits such as cancer prevention, anti-aging factors and heart disease prevention, make the fruit appealing to consumers.
"A variety of fruits throughout each day is important," she said. "Fruits and vegetables are low in calories, so you don't have to be concerned with weight gain. You get so many vitamins, fiber and nutrients. It's important that we all eat enough."
With college students living in close quarters with one another, sickness can spread quickly across campus. By freezing blueberries and eating them throughout the winter, students can healthily avoid the cold and flu season.
Not only do blueberries promote good health, they also postpone the affects of aging.
James Joseph, Ph.D., told McCord that it is possible for blueberries to reverse the affects of short-term memory loss as people age. Age can also bring loss of eyesight, which could be improved by eating blueberries, McCord said. According to the article "Miracle Berry," blueberries are known as "vision fruit" in Japan for relieving stress and strain put on the eyes. McCord also wrote that people living in Europe eat blueberries to improve their vision at night.
Cranberries are well known for their affects on the urinary tract, but blueberries are a less well-known homeremedy for urinary tract infections. Not only can blueberries help rid the body of the infection, they can also prevent future infections in the bladder and kidneys, according to research done at Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth, N.J.
Blueberries are a healthy, no-work snack that boosts energy and promotes weight loss. The berries have also shown to reduce cholesterol build-up and fatigue.
Not only are they one of the healthiest foods, they are also one of the easiest. With a simple rinse-and-eat preparation, blueberries make for a quick snack between classes or act as a healthy addition to any meal.
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