Many of you already know this.  Blueberries are good for you.  They contain antioxidants, which are thought to help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals and the chronic diseases associated with the aging process.  Packed with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins, the blue-red pigments that give the berries their delightful color, improve the integrity of support structures in the veins and entire vascular system.  Anthocyanins have been shown to enhance the effects of vitamin C, improve capillary integrity, and stabilize the collagen matrix (the ground substance of all body tissues).

Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.  Yet another to make fruit a bigger part of your healthy diet.

To keep the noggin’ sharp as ever, eat more blueberries.  In laboratory animal studies, researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Researchers found that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making them mentally equivalent to much younger ones.

If you’re like me and you love to eat, blueberries can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation. In addition to soluble and insoluble fiber, blueberries also contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation. Blueberries also promote urinary tract health. Blueberries contain the same compounds found in cranberries that help prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections.

Contraindications include people with kidney or gallbladder problems.

Add a cup full of fresh ones to your next breakfast cereal or fruit smoothie.  Low in calories (81 per cup), high in nutrients and full of flavor, make blueberries a staple in your fridge today!