Beautiful, healthy, flavourful glorious blueberries. It is that time of year when blueberries are available in magnificent abundance. Long known for their flavourful addition to muffins, pies, jellies and even in savoury dishes, blueberries are more than just a favourite summer berry.
The rich purple, blue or black berries are brimming with vitamins and minerals including manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin K. A cup of blueberries a day is also high in dietary fibre. A single serving of blueberries provides a relatively low glycemic load score of 4 out of 100 per day.
Blueberries are high in antioxidants, anthocyanins, and phenolics — all of which have significant health benefits. As one of the most powerful antioxidant fruits, consuming blueberries is believed to inhibit cancer cell development, reduce inflammation and prevents damage from free radicals in the body. Free radicals are, in part, responsible for the aging process.
Blueberry consumption has also been linked to improvements in cognitive function, urinary tract health, heart disease, eyestrain and motor function.
Blueberries can be enjoyed fresh, dried or in a tea. Blueberry tea is commonly consumed to improve eyesight and the cold tea bags can be used to soothe tired eyes.
Before you rush to your local market or farm stall to buy some delicious blueberries, it is important to remember that all blueberries are not created equally. Choose blueberries marked organic or pesticide free and choose blueberries that are grown locally. Local organic blueberries are the healthier choice and also better for the planet.
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