Blueberries are increasingly popular fruits around the world. This is a very tasty and nutritious food that there are those who classify it as superfood, and is that blueberries have many properties and health benefits.
This article introduces each and every one of them, 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 have come to stay.
What are blueberries?
Blueberries are one of the fruits with more antioxidant properties that exist. These small fruits are berries produced by shrubs of the Ericaceae family, and their original habitat is in the northernmost part of Europe, Asia and North America.
Blueberries are produced by plants of three different but related species. The northernmost part of the northern hemisphere continues to be the main area in which this type of plant can be found, and only Canada and the United States account for more than 50% of world production.
However, today it is produced in other areas, being Chile, Argentina and Uruguay outstanding producers with very competitive prices on a global scale. There are more and more people in the world who want to consume blueberries because of their taste and their properties and benefits.
12 properties and benefits of blueberries
In countries such as Mexico, Spain or Colombia, blueberries were not consumed in the past.. Yet today their consumption is increasing year after year, and all these countries also produce these wonderful, healthy berries.
The reason is that many people are interested in the health properties and benefits of blueberries. Each and every one of them is shown below.
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 combat free radicals and, therefore, the oxidation of our tissues.
2. Provides many vitamins
Vitamins are micronutrients that blueberries provide in large quantities.. Vitamin C stands out above all, but good amounts of vitamins A, E, K can also be found. In addition it also contains several vitamins of the B group (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9).
3. They are rich in minerals
Blueberries also provide considerable amounts of mineralspotassium is present in the greatest amount. However, it is manganese that presents the most valuable concentrations due to its relative scarcity in other foods. They also provide zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
4. Combat infections
These berries have the property of fighting infections of various kinds. One of the types of infection against which they fight most effectively is urinary tract infection, and all thanks to its organic acids that increase the acidity relative to urine. However, they also have significant effects of this type on other tissues.
5. Protect the cardiovascular system
Different studies have shown that blueberries take care of the heart. They represent a protective factor for different risks that can lead to serious cardiovascular health problems. This is the case with diabetes, cholesterol, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
6. Take care of the eyes
One of the organs that can most benefit 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 inflammation of the retina. They also favor the maintenance of vision, especially that related to the night.
7. Help you lose weight
Blueberries are fruits with many beneficial substances but few calories. This means that our body gets a lot of advantages if it ingests them, since it contains nutrients of great biological value but provide little amount of calories.
8. Contains fiber
Another advantage to lose weight is its great contribution in fiber. This fiber produces a feeling of satiety, so you avoid eating too many calories. On the other hand, fiber improves gastrointestinal transit, as well as bacterial flora and bowel health.
9. Promote cognitive function
The brain is another organ that benefits from consuming cranberries.. The properties of these berries allow some cognitive abilities to be reinforced. It’s the case of memory and concentration.
10. Decrease the chance of dementia
Not only do berries help improve brain function, they also protect the brain.. Eating 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 disease.
11. They bring vitality
These fruits simply contribute to feeling better. The different properties and benefits of blueberries discussed above increase vitality and energy. For this reason many people incorporate them in their breakfast in the form of smoothies, fruit salad, garnish, etc..
12. 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. This ultimately represents a very important protective factor against the development of diseases as serious as cancer.