Summer has officially arrived!
Yes! We all have been waiting for it since long time.
Apart from sunshine, t-shirt weather, long days another advantage of this season are numerous fruits available on markets! For me this is definitely the best time of the year as Summer brings as one of the best and the healthiest fruits – BERRIES! I love them, they are definitely one of my favorite. They are low in calories, low in sugar but full of taste, vitamins and antioxidants! And what is more there are SOOO…. MANY of them! Blueberries, huckleberries, mulberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries… and much, much more!
Today we will have a closer look at blueberries 🙂 I am sure everyone loves them!
This vibrant fruit is tiny, but remains one of the most nutritious, antioxidant-rich types of fruit in the world and have been shown to do everything from enhance brain health to keep your heart strong. Also as I mentioned before, they are also super sweet, low-calorie and delicious.
Health benefits of this top superfood
- Support Digestion
With 3.6 grams of fiber in each cup, including a serving or two of blueberries can help you meet your fiber needs while also promoting regularity and healthy digestion. - Promote Heart Health
Healthy heart is a key component of overall health as it is responsible for pumping blood through the body to provide your tissues with the oxygen and nutrients needed to thrive and survive.Studies show that eating blueberries could help reduce some of the risk factors for heart disease. Sttudy in published in the Journal of Nutrition reported that blueberry supplementation led to greater decreases in blood pressure and oxidized LDL cholesterol, two major risk factors for heart disease.Of course, the health benefits of blueberries on heart disease are limited unless combined with a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise. - Alleviate Inflammation
Although inflammation is a normal immune response that helps protect your body from illness and injury.Thanks to its high antioxidant content, blueberries have been shown to have a significant anti-inflammatory effect in the body. A 2014 test-tube study even found that the polyphenols found in blueberries helped reduce the activity of several markers of inflammation. - Boost brain health
One of the most impressive health benefits of blueberries is its ability to enhance brain health. There have been many studies suggesting that eating blueberries could improve memory and cognition.Additionally, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, which can protect the brain from free radical damage and promote healthy brain aging. - Amp Up Weight Loss
Blueberries are high in fiber, low in calories and carbohydrate, and contain almost no fat, that is why this nutrient-packed berry is great if you’re looking to lose weight fast. It’s low in calories but provides a whopping 3.6 grams of fiber per cup, fulfilling up to 14 percent of your daily fiber needs with just one serving. Fiber moves slowly through your digestive tract, promoting satiety and keeping you feeling fuller for longer to aid in weight loss.Be sure to combine blueberries with a nutritious, well-rounded diet and plenty of physical activity to promote weight loss even more. - High in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds that fight harmful free radicals. They not only prevent cell damage, but also protect against several types of chronic disease, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.One study compared the antioxidant capacity of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries and found that blueberries not only contained the highest total antioxidant capacity, but also contained more of many specific types of antioxidants, including phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins. - Help Fight Cancer
Recent research has unearthed some impressive findings on the ability of blueberries to protect against certain types of cancer.For example, a 2010 test-tube study reported that blueberry extract was able to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells, making blueberry extracts potential cancer-fighting agents. Similarly, a 2007 test-tube study showed that low-bush blueberry juice reduced the growth of several types of cancer, including stomach, prostate, intestine and breast cancer cells.
Ideas to use blueberries
Remember, when picking blueberries, they should be ripe enough that they are blue and require just a light touch to pick. Be sure to wash them thoroughly before savoring the sweet flavor.
These days, you likely won’t run into any trouble finding a pint of blueberries on the shelf at your local grocery store. You can also find both regular and wild blueberries in the frozen fruit section of many stores as well 🙂
You can add blueberries to just about any recipe to kick up the sweetness.
- Try them in pancakes or baked goods to ramp up the antioxidant content of your dish
- Sprinkle them over oatmeal or yogurt
- Enjoy them as is for a guilt-free way to satisfy your sweet tooth
Make your own omega blueberry smoothie!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup blueberries
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon sprouted flax meal
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- lime juice and mint leaves for taste and decoration (also some other berries, like blackberries 😉 )
DIRECTIONS:
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until a smooth texture is reached.
This omega blueberry smoothie recipe is the perfect breakfast! It’s loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats and good protein to help you start your day off right!
