8 Super Things Blueberries Can Do for Your Health

Rebecca Lewis July 15, 2014

They say the darker the fruit’s colour, the healthier it is. It’s true, especially when it comes to berries. You probably know for quite a while now that blueberries are home of so many antioxidants while being low in calories. But there are more good things to say about these super delicious gems.

Here are 8 super health benefits of eating blueberries that might convince you to make this fruit a part of your regular diet.

Brain Health

Eating just one serving of blueberries a week may slow the rate of cognitive decline by several years, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Neurology. Researchers used a sample of more than 16,000 women from the Nurses’ Health Study, one of the longest on-going studies looking at women’s health in the U.S. The average age of the women sampled was 74. They found that women with highest intake of berries delayed their cognitive ageing by as much as two-and-a-half years.

Heart Health

The dark colour of blueberries is due to anthocyanins – a flavonoid that counters the build-up of plaque and improves cardiovascular health. A study reported last year in the Harvard Heart Letter suggests that eating more blueberries and strawberries may be a tasty way to protect the heart. It found that women who ate the most blueberries and strawberries were 34% less likely to have suffered a heart attack during the study period than women who ate the least of these fruits.

Cancer Prevention

Anthocyanins do not only offer protection against heart disease, but against cancer as well. Such compound, along with antioxidants, helps to stop the growth of cancerous cells. In one study, the risk of cancer was reduced by 50% when women consumed blueberries.

Bladder Health

Cranberries are known for helping alleviate UTI. But blueberries deserve to be applauded too. And that’s because both of them contain substances and compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to the wall of your bladder. What’s more, the high levels of antioxidants in blueberries reduce symptoms of UTI.

Digestive Health

Blueberries are high in fibre, which is needed for proper digestion. Fibre also protects you against a variety of digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhoea, and IBS. Not only that. Blueberries contain copper, sodium and fructose too – which all aid in digestion.

Weight Loss

Yes! You read it right. Eating blueberries regularly can speed your way to weight loss. Research has shown that those with a blueberry-rich diet tend to have less abdominal fat than those that forgo it. Along with fibre, blueberries contain carbohydrates which keep you feeling full for longer, so you don’t overeat.

Strong Immunity

Blueberries contain high levels of vitamin C, which has a range of benefits, including keeping your immune system healthy. In fact, one serving of the fruit contains roughly 25% of your daily requirements of the essential vitamin.

Eye Health

Blueberries are good for your eye health too. That’s because they are high in vitamin A. Here’s a fun fact: some pilots during WWII apparently used blueberries in order to improve their night vision. In case you were wondering, they ate them, as opposed to squeezing them into their eyes.