In
the world of nutritional fruits, blueberries are loaded with
powerful antioxidants. Based on the findings in medical science,
foods in rich, deep pigments of blue and purple represent the
presence of antioxidants which have been found to help prevent
the risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes
and Alzheimer's disease.
Phytochemical
studies are the hottest trends in nutritional research. The
latest findings depict how blueberries may stunt the aging process.
At Tufts University, researchers examined the relationship between
blueberries and memory in laboratory rats. When rats were fed
blueberry extracts, the results showed an improvement in cognitive,
neural, and motor functions.
Another
study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggested
that blueberries may reduce cholesterol. The findings demonstrated
how blueberries may be as efficacious at commercial drugs that
treat cholesterol.
Scientists
evaluated blueberries to prove the power of their composition.
To measure the potency of various fruits, scientists gauged
the oxygen radical absorbance (ORAC) in blueberries which have
an ORAC of 2,400. Most berry fruits have high ORAC levels. For
example, blackberries have 2,030. Other berries with oxygen
radical absorbance’s over 1,000 include cranberries, raspberries
and strawberries.
Blueberries
Versus Prunes
In the
world of fruits, another, antioxidant ally is prunes. They contain
abundant vitamins and minerals. For example, they are loaded
with vitamin A, potassium, iron, magnesium and fiber. These
vitamins and minerals are beneficial because they provide a
sense of well-being, balance, invigorate the body, all while
preventing disease.
Dissimilar
to blueberries, prunes are high in calories. For example, one
prune has between 22-26 calories. For individuals with irritable
bowel syndrome or loose bowels, prunes act very much like a
laxative may need to be avoided. Nonetheless, both prunes and
blueberries are excellent toppings on yogurts, cereals and other
foods.
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