Blueberries - A Powerful Source of Natural Antioxidants
Blueberries and antioxidants ...
Belinda Linden from the British Heart Foundation:
"Research has suggested
that natural chemicals found in fruit, including blueberries,
have potent antioxidant properties which may reduce the
harmful type of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein
(LDL).
Dr Rimando from the USA Department of Agriculture:
"We are excited to
learn that blueberries, which are already known to be
rich in healthy compounds, may also be a potent weapon
in the battle against obesity and heart disease."
 Why
Antioxidants are So Important:
Free Radicals - Antioxidants ...
Antioxidants are thought to help protect the
body against the damaging effects of free radicals.
These free radicals, which can damage cell membranes and DNA
through a process known as oxidative stress,
are blamed for many of the dysfunctions and diseases associated
with aging.
Fresh fruits (blueberries) and vegetables contain many of these
naturally occurring antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E.
Blueberries contain 0.04 mg of beta-carotene, 13 mg of vitamin
C and 1 mg vitamin E per 100 g of blueberries.
Research from the USDA Human Nutrition Research
Center on Aging, has discovered that blueberries
have one of the highest antioxidant activity of most fruits.
Using a test called ORAC (Oxygen
Radical Absorbance Capacity), researchers have proved
that a serving of fresh blueberries provides more antioxidant
activity than many other fresh fruits and vegetables.
"In a USDA Human Nutrition Research
Center laboratory, neuroscientists discovered that feeding
blueberries to laboratory rats slowed age-related loss
in their mental capacity, a finding that has important
implications for humans."
A study which appeared in the June 9, 2004 issue of the Journal
of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry, assessed the antioxidant content
of over 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads,
nuts, and spices.
Each food-type was analyzed for their specific antioxidant content
and ranked according to antioxidant capacity per serving size.
The top cultivated fruit for antioxidants was the Blueberry (even
higher than cranberries), with one serving (1 cup) with 9019
antioxidant capacity.
"Ronald Prior, PhD, the head of
the USDA Phytochemical Laboratory at Tufts, recommends
that people should be adding one-half cup of blueberries
to their diet every day!"
One serving of Blueberry MAX™ equals one-half
cup of fresh blueberries ...
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Pure Blueberries in a supplement
Blueberry MAX Pure™ - The most convenient
way to always have your required daily amount of fresh
Blueberries -
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