I LOVE blueberries- do you? So I was happy to read/find all this good health info. about them. No reason not to eat them all summer long, as much as I can!
“The USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston has developed an assay called ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), which qualifies the antioxidant capacity of foods. Fresh blueberries have a high level of ORAC, 2400 per 100 grams. (As a comparison, five servings of some fruits and vegetables in a typical American diet score around 1600)
(But…) What are antioxidants?
The short answer… “Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products called “free radicals” that can lead to cancer and other age-related diseases. These molecules battle cell and DNA damage involved in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and perhaps brain degeneration. Anthocyanin (the pigment that makes blueberries blue) is thought to be responsible for this major health benefit. ”
A longer answer… “Antioxidants consist of a group of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that have health enhancing effects for our bodies. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals before they do harm to our bodies. Free radicals are atoms that cause damage to our cells. They harm our immune system leading to many degenerative diseases. Free radicals are formed by our cells being exposed to a variety of substances such as radiation, chemicals, pollution, smoke, drugs, alcohol, pesticides and sun and through various metabolic processes such as when our bodies utilize stored fat for energy. A poor diet also aids in the formation of free radicals.
Antioxidants work by donating an electron to free radicals to convert them to harmless molecules. This protects cells from oxidative damage that leads to aging and various diseases.
Many vitamins and minerals are antioxidants but not all antioxidants are equal. Some antioxidants are made in our cells, including enzymes and other molecules. Other essential antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and selenium must come from our diets.
The darker, deeper blue fruits have the highest anthocyanin values, thereby contributing the most potent antioxidant sources.
Anthocyanins: Anthocyanins (the pigment that makes blueberries dark blue) are powerful antioxidants. They contain naturally occurring plant chemicals called polyphenols with very high antioxidant characteristics. The darker, deeper blue fruits have the highest anthocyanin values, thereby contributing the most potent antioxidant sources.”
Info from the TrueBlue site (a blueberry juice) http://www.trueblueberry.com/blueberry/antioxidants.asp
{Note from The Botanical Beauties:
| Q: How do you properly freeze blueberries? |
| A: Freezing your blueberries is a great way to enjoy your fruit throughout the year. After you buy fresh blueberries, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Be sure to not wash the blueberries before freezing. After they are frozen, transfer to an air tight plastic bag or freezer container and store. When you are ready to use your blueberries, take them out and wash prior using. |
| Q: How do I store frozen blueberries? |
| A: Frozen blueberries come in cases that are normally poly lined. Keep the seal in tact as long as possible, and when used, re-seal and keep frozen at: 0 to -10 degrees F (-18 to 23 degrees C) Do not re freeze after they thaw! } |
This info below is from a website called The worlds Healthiest Foods.
• “New studies make it clear that we can freeze blueberries without doing damage to their delicate anthocyanin antioxidants. There’s no question about the delicate nature of many antioxidant nutrients found in blueberries. These antioxidants include many different types of anthocyanins, the colorful pigments that give many foods their wonderful shades of blue, purple, and red. After freezing blueberries at temperatures of 0°F (-17°C) or lower for periods of time between 3-6 months, researchers have discovered no significant lowering of overall antioxidant capacity or anthocyanin concentrations. Anthocyanins studied have included malvidins, delphinidins, pelargonidins, cyanidins, and peonidins. These findings are great news for anyone who grows, buys, or picks fresh berries in season and wants to enjoy them year round. They are also great news for anyone who has restricted access to fresh blueberries but can find them in the freezer section of the market.
• If you want to maximize your antioxidant benefits from blueberries, go organic! A recent study has directly compared the total antioxidant capacity of organically grown versus non-organically grown highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., var. Bluecrop) and found some very impressive results for the organically grown berries. Organically grown blueberries turned out to have significantly higher concentrations of total phenol antioxidants and total anthocyanin antioxidants than conventionally grown blueberries, as well as significantly higher total antioxidant capacity. Numerous specific antioxidant anthocyanins were measured in the study, including delphinidins, malvidins, and petunidins. The antioxidant flavonoid quercetin was also measured.”
… and if all that is not enough to get you out and eating blueberries with everything… an article on WebMD states (link) “Blueberries May Lower Blood Fat/Cholesterol.” Well if you want to know more, click on the link and see the article (note it is a 2004 date.)…
…Then I found “Blueberries” “A report released by the USDA found that blueberry skins may be effective at lowering bad cholesterol. Researchers believe that this is due to the fact that blueberry skins contain a compound that can activate a protein involved in the importing and breaking down of fat in your body. The initial study was conducted on hamsters so further research is still needed. Even if future research doesn’t look as promising, blueberries are still a dietary source of healthy antioxidants so there’s no harm in adding them to your diet. Try to eat fresh blueberries rather than drinking blueberry juice as the skin is not always present in juices.” 2011 LIVESTRONG.COM BLOG