10 Incredible Health Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries are sweet and highly nutritious fruits and they are so popular, they are labeled as a superfood because of their great nutritional profile and impeccable health and nutritional benefits.

They improve your overall health if you take them regularly and they have a sweet taste which will leave you asking for more. Many people love blueberries of the taste.

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The fruit is tiny but its health benefits are enormous, this makes blueberry one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits and most nutritious fruits in the world.

Blueberries are a rich source of the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin, in fact, the content of anthocyanins in blueberries is higher than other foods.

Below are ten amazing health benefits of the superfood, blueberries.

10 Health Benefits of Blueberries

1. They are Highly Nutritious

Blueberries are dense in vital and critical nutrients needed by your body and they are extremely low in calories. Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-dense berries in the world.

A cup of blueberries contains 4 grams of fiber, 25% of the RDI of manganese, 24% of the RDI of vitamin C, 36% of the RDI of vitamin K, and a moderate amount of almost all the nutrients that are required for your body to function optimally.

Blueberries are also made up of 85% water, 15 grams of carbohydrate, and 84 calories.

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2. Treat Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is very common in women but one of the ways to prevent and treat this infection is to increase your intake of this berry.

Blueberries and cranberries are closely related because they are made up of the same active substance and it is widely known that cranberry juice is one of the most effective natural remedies for UTI.

They contain anti-adhesives, they prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder and urinary tract thereby helping to keep this infection at bay.

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3. Great Source of Antioxidants

Blueberries are called the “king of antioxidant foods” because of their rich content of antioxidants.

These powerful molecules protect your body from free radicals, oxidation, and other biochemical processes that can damage your cells and cause undesirable conditions like premature aging and cancer.

This fruit is estimated to have one of the highest levels of antioxidants when compared to other fruits and vegetables. They are so dense in the antioxidant flavonoids, and the group of flavonoids is anthocyanins.

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This compound is responsible for the amazing health benefits of blueberries and regular consumption of blueberries will help to increase the levels of antioxidants in your body.

4. Prevent Muscle Damage

Blueberries help prevent and treat muscle damage, fatigue, and muscle soreness caused by strenuous physical exercise. This is caused by oxidative stress in your muscles and partly inflammation.

Blueberry helps to lessen the damage that occurs at the molecular level during intense exercise and it also reduce muscle damage and performance.

It hastens the recovery of your muscles after strenuous exercise and relieves fatigue by supplying your body with energy.

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5. Prevent DNA Damage

It is impossible to avoid oxidative DNA damage, they occur thousands of times in our cells every day of life but the type of foods we eat can help slow down the process or help our body overcome the effects.

Oxidation and DNA damage is why we grow old and also the reason why certain diseases like cancer develop in the body.

The high levels of antioxidants in blueberries can help control and slow down oxidative DNA damage and also neutralize free radicals that damage the DNA.

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6. Improve Insulin Sensitivity

There are lots of bioactive substances in blueberries that help to improve insulin sensitivity. This makes this fruit a great remedy for diabetic patients.

Even though blueberries are very sweet and have a moderate amount of sugar, these bioactive substances prevent any negative impact this sugar will cause thereby helping to regulate the concentration of sugar in the blood.

Anthocyanins which are found abundantly in blueberries also help improve insulin sensitivity and the metabolism of glucose.

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7. Prevent Oxidation of Cholesterol

Sometimes in your body, bad cholesterol, LDL and VLDL cholesterol can become oxidized; this is a critical step in the development of chronic and serious diseases like heart disease.

Blueberries reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in your body and they also prevent oxidation of cholesterol, this helps in preventing heart disease and cardiovascular diseases.

This is one of the reasons why blueberry is a heart-friendly food.

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8. Protect your Lungs

Anthocyanins protect your lungs and enhance their functions even as you age. Blueberries help improve the functions of your lungs and they keep lung problems at bay when consumed regularly.

9. Improve Brain Functions

Oxidative stress negatively affects your brain and accelerates the aging process of your brain. This impairs the functions of your brain and can even lead to degenerative conditions of the brain.

Eating antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries positively affects the part of your brain that controls intelligence.

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They bring life back to aging neurons, they improve cell signaling in the brain and help to improve the overall health of your brain and also protect this vital organ.

Blueberries treat cognitive impairment and delay mental aging.

10. Detoxify your Body

Anthocyanins are powerful compounds that help eliminate heavy metals from your body. This includes arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.

They also improve your overall health and increase your lifespan. Blueberries contain polyphenols and resveratrol that increase lifespan and slow down the hands of the biological clock.