FYI: Blueberries

On a recent a country road drive, Patrick and I stopped to pick some blueberries from a local blueberry farm. Not only was it a fun activity for a Sunday afternoon, but the *FRESH* blueberries were significantly cheaper than those found at the grocery store. 3.4lbs of Blueberries for just $3.00! In addition to being a fun way liven up a few of our favorite healthy recipes (the blueberry pancakes were heavenly), with just 80 delicious calories per cup and virtually no fat, they made a perfect summer snack all by themselves!

Blueberries offer us many important nutrition and health benefits, so consider adding some blue into your diet this week....

1) Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C.
In fact, a serving contains about 14 mg or almost 25% of daily requirement for Vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for the formation of collagen and to maintain healthy gums and capillaries. It also aids in the absorption of iron and promotes a healthy immune system.

2) Blueberries are a good source of dietary fiber.
Government surveys tell us that there is not enough fiber in our diet. A diet high in fiber contributes to heart health, helping to keep cholesterol in check. Fiber also aids in digestions and helps maintain regularity.


3) Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese.
Manganese plays an important role in the development of bones and in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate and fat.


4) Blueberries contain substances that have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which are unstable molecules linked to the development of a number of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's. According to the USDA database of the antioxidant activity of selected foods (ORAC values), blueberries rank among the highest on a per serving basis. The antioxidant capacity of blueberries is 6,552 micromoles TE/100g.4 Substances in blueberries called polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins that give blueberries their blue hue, are the major contributors to the antioxidant activity of blueberries.