Blueberries Health Benefits

The blueberry plant which is native to North America, produces blue colored berries that are nutritious and offer many health benefits. The commonly available blueberries belong to genus Vaccinium and the section cyanococcus. The blueberry fruit, which is actually a false berry, is greenish in its raw state. The color of the fruit turns reddish purple followed by blue in the ripened stage.

Blueberries Health Benefits
There are many benefits that a blueberry fruit offers. Let us have a look at the important health benefits of blueberries one by one.

Anti-aging: The antioxidants contained in the blueberries help in reducing the damage caused by the free radicals. The free radicals are considered to be responsible for aging of the body. The rich content of antioxidants thus, creates a counter effect against the process of aging. The high content of vitamin C also helps in slowing down the process of aging.

Eye Care: The eye problems such as macular degeneration, hypermetropia, myopia and cataract can be reduced with the help of blueberries. The benefits of blueberries in terms of eye care is the delaying or prevention of the above mentioned problems. The presence of vitamins (C,E,A), flavonoids and carotenoids results into the maintenance of ocular health and it is one of the blueberries health benefits.

Prevention of UTI: The prevention of urinary tract infection is one of the important blueberry health benefits. Infection in the urinary tract takes place due to the growth of E. coli and other bacteria near the inner wall of the urinary tract. It results into the problems like experiencing inflammation or burning sensation during the passage of urine. The heavy, polymer-like molecules in blueberries inhibit the growth of bacteria while the antibiotics support the functioning or working of these polymers.

Prevention of Brain Disorders: The blueberry fruit contains vitamins (A, C, E & B), anthocyanin, sodium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, etc. The above elements help in protecting the brain from neurotic disorders by the prevention of the degeneration of brain cells and neurons. The Alzheimer's disease can be cured to a great extent with the help of these berries and the health of the central nervous system too can be maintained. The prevention of of brain disorders and protection of the cells from degeneration is thus, an important blueberries health benefits

Cancer Cure: The chemical compounds like ellagic acid, pterostilbene and anthocyanin are useful in preventing and curing cancer. The compound pterostilbene is specially used to treat liver and colon cancer.

Improvement in Digestion: The presence of copper, sodium, various acids, fructose and vitamins in the blueberry fruit helps in improving the digestion. The fibers present in blueberries help in reducing constipation.

Immunity Boost: The vitamins (A,B,C & E), and anthocyanin help in building the immunity, which is one of the most important blueberry health benefits.

Growing Blueberries
The blueberry species that is commonly grown in North America is the Vaccinium corymbosum, which is also known as Northern highbush blueberry. The hybrids of the V. corymbosum with other species have been produced in order to suit the southern climate. In North America, the blueberries are cultivated in the period between mid-may and september. The important cultivars of North and South America are Vaccinium pallidum (Dryland Blueberry) and Vaccinium arboreum (Sparkleberry) respectively. The maximum production of highbush blueberries takes place in Michigan, British Columbia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Washington and Oregon. Read more on growing blueberries.

Blueberries Nutrition
The blueberries have a high nutritive value which help in preventing diseases as well as in nourishing the body. The presence of antioxidants help in preventing the body from damage.

Blueberries Calorie
The blueberries have a high amount of nutrients while their calorie content is low. There are 83 calories present in 1/3 cup of blueberries. Blueberries are also known for the rich fiber content they possess.

The above article provides information about the blueberries health benefits and other facts about blueberries in short. One should include this nutritive fruit in the diet in order to maintain a good health.