Blue foods
How many blue-colored foods can you name?
I bet the first one that came to mind was blueberries, right? I grew up picking blueberries (and eating at least as many that went into the bucket) with my family in northwest Indiana, and I've continued the tradition with my boys here in Vermont. Of course blueberries are scrumptious in pies, muffins, and pancakes, but did you know that they're also a nutrition powerhouse?
The blue color in blueberrries gives them one of the highest antioxidant scores of any food. That means that blueberries can help inhibit inflammation which may be implicated in heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. The antioxidants in blueberries also help prevent urinary tract infections similiar to cranberries, and may help reduce risk of some types of cancer.
Along with high antioxidant activity, blueberries are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. 1 cup of fresh blueberries provides almost 1/4 of your daily fiber needs - and in only 80 calories!
I prefer fresh-picked, local blueberries but always keep a bag of frozen blueberries in my freezer. They're perfect added to yogurt smoothies, and you never know when you might have a craving for a blueberry muffin!
I bet the first one that came to mind was blueberries, right? I grew up picking blueberries (and eating at least as many that went into the bucket) with my family in northwest Indiana, and I've continued the tradition with my boys here in Vermont. Of course blueberries are scrumptious in pies, muffins, and pancakes, but did you know that they're also a nutrition powerhouse?
The blue color in blueberrries gives them one of the highest antioxidant scores of any food. That means that blueberries can help inhibit inflammation which may be implicated in heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. The antioxidants in blueberries also help prevent urinary tract infections similiar to cranberries, and may help reduce risk of some types of cancer.
Along with high antioxidant activity, blueberries are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. 1 cup of fresh blueberries provides almost 1/4 of your daily fiber needs - and in only 80 calories!
I prefer fresh-picked, local blueberries but always keep a bag of frozen blueberries in my freezer. They're perfect added to yogurt smoothies, and you never know when you might have a craving for a blueberry muffin!
Labels: antioxidants, blueberries, fiber
posted by Lynn Grieger and Mike Ryan at
9:50 AM
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