Taking these fruits for breakfast is ideal to start the day with maximum vitality.
Blueberries are an increasingly popular fruit around the world . It is a very tasty and nutritious food that some people classify as a superfood, and it is that blueberries have many properties and health benefits.
Each and every one of them is presented in this article, as well as a brief introduction to what blueberries are. And it is that these small fruits are not consumed in a traditional way in Spanish-speaking countries, but now they are here to stay.
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What are blueberries?
Blueberries are one of the fruits with the most antioxidant properties that exist . These small fruits are berries produced by shrubs from the Ericaceae family, and their original habitat is found in the northernmost part of Europe, Asia and North America.
Blueberries are produced by plants from three different but related species. The northernmost part of the northern hemisphere continues to be the main area where this type of plant can be found, and only Canada and the United States together account for more than 50% of world production.
However, today it is produced in other areas, with Chile, Argentina and Uruguay being notable producers with very competitive prices on a global scale. And it is that there are more and more people in the world who want to consume blueberries for their flavor and for their properties and benefits.
12 properties and benefits of blueberries
In countries like Mexico, Spain or Colombia, blueberries were not consumed in the past . However, today its consumption is increasing year after year, and all these countries also produce these wonderful and healthy berries.
The reason is that many people are interested in the properties and benefits that blueberries offer for health. Each and every one of them is shown below.
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1. They have many antioxidant properties
Blueberries contain many antioxidant substances that protect our body . It is the food with the highest density of compounds such as anthocyanins and other flavonoids, which fight free radicals and, therefore, the oxidation of our tissues.
2. Provides many vitamins
Vitamins are micronutrients that blueberries provide in great quantity . Vitamin C stands out above all, but you can also find good amounts of vitamins A, E, K. It also contains several vitamins of group B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9).
3. They are rich in minerals
Blueberries also provide considerable amounts of minerals , potassium being the one present in the greatest quantity. However, manganese is the one with the most valuable concentrations due to its relative scarcity in other foods. They also provide zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
4. They fight infections
These berries have the ability to fight infections of various kinds . One of the types of infection against which they fight most effectively is urinary infection, and all thanks to their organic acids that increase the relative acidity of urine. However, they also have significant effects of this type on other tissues.
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5. They protect the cardiovascular system
Different studies have shown that blueberries take care of the heart . They represent a protection factor from different risks that can end up in serious problems for cardiovascular health. This is the case of diabetes, cholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
6. They take care of the eyes
One of the organs that can benefit the most from blueberries is the eyes . Among its properties are the ability to protect the macula from macular degeneration, as well as prevent cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa and retinal inflammation. They also favor the maintenance of vision, especially relative to the night.
7. They help lose weight
Blueberries are fruits with many beneficial substances but few calories . This means that our body obtains a great number of advantages if we ingest them, since they contain nutrients of great biological value but they provide few calories.
8. Contains fiber
Another advantage to lose weight is its great contribution in fiber . This fiber makes you feel full, so you avoid eating too many calories. On the other hand, fiber improves gastrointestinal transit, as well as the bacterial flora and the health of the intestine.
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9. They promote cognitive function
The brain is another organ that benefits from eating blueberries . The properties of these berries make some cognitive abilities can be seen reinforced. It is the case of memory and concentration
10. They decrease the probability of dementias
Not only do berries help improve brain function, they protect it . Consuming these foods has been shown to combat inflammation in this vital organ, and reduce the development of dementias such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
11. They provide vitality
These fruits simply contribute to feeling better . Different properties and benefits of blueberries that have been discussed above increase vitality and energy. For this reason, many people incorporate them into their breakfast in the form of smoothies, fruit salad, garnish, etc.
12. They have anti-inflammatory properties
Blueberries are fruits with many anti-inflammatory properties . They benefit the well-being of the body because they fight internal inflammation, which can affect different organs of the body. In the long run, this represents a very important protective factor against the development of diseases as serious as cancer.
- We recommend: ” Pomegranate: 12 properties and benefits of this fruit “
Bibliographic references
- Fernandez, O. (2013). My anti-cancer recipes: Food and anti-cancer life. Barcelona: Uranus Editions.
- Ma L, Sun Z, Zeng Y et al. (2018). Molecular Mechanism and Health Role of Functional Ingredients in Blueberry for Chronic Disease in Human Beings, Int J Mol Sci., 19 (9). pii: E2785 .
- Martin, A. (2013). Eat to be better. Barcelona: Grijalbo.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.