Blueberries are not only popular, but also repeatedly ranked in U.S. diets as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings.
Serve blueberries as is, in a bread or dessert recipe and with yogurt or in a smoothie. Store fresh blueberries in the refrigerator.
Blueberries are a Superfood. You're gonna wanna make Food Network, Giada De Laurentiis's Blueberry-Banana Bread.
Eating fruit provides health benefits. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories.
None have cholesterol, and are a source of essential nutrients such as potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid).
People who eat fruits are likely to reduce risk of some chronic diseases such as heart disease, including heart attack and stroke, certain types of cancers, obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney stones, bone loss to name a few of the health benefits.
Fruits provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body.
Potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Fruit sources of potassium include bananas, prunes and prune juice, dried peaches and apricots, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and orange juice.
Dietary fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. Fiber helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-rich fruits help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole or cut-up fruits are sources of dietary fiber. (Fruit juices contain little or no fiber.)
Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of all body tissues, helps heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy.
Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should consume adequate folate from foods, fortified foods or supplements. This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.
Food that's good and healthy for diabetics is good for healthy bodies, too. Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. It's Fruit Friday. Eat blueberries today.
* Source: USDA. Food Network
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