Not only does it taste delicious, blueberries are also known for a variety of benefits that are good for health. One of the benefits of blueberries that are considered extraordinary is to improve memory. In addition, there are other benefits of blueberries that you also need to know.
Blueberries or blueberries are fruit plants originating from North America. Currently, blueberries can be found anywhere, including Indonesia. As the name implies, blueberries are blue, and are round in shape with a small size.
A study proves that blueberries are known to help prevent several types of diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Various Nutrient Contents in Blueberries
Blueberry fruit is very beneficial for the body because this fruit is known to contain various important nutrients as follows:
Vitamin
Blueberries are known as one of the fruits that are rich in vitamins, including vitamin C and vitamin K. Vitamin C is useful for maintaining healthy skin and maintaining body resistance. Meanwhile, vitamin K is known to be useful for preventing bleeding and maintaining bone health.
Blueberries also contain vitamin B6 and vitamin E, although in small amounts. Vitamin E is able to maintain healthy skin and eyes, while vitamin B6 plays an important role in maintaining nerve function and health and supports blood formation.
Antioxidant
Vitamin C in blueberries can also function as an antioxidant that is useful for accelerating the wound healing process. In addition to vitamin C, other antioxidants contained in blueberries are anthocyanins and flavonoids.
Antioxidants in blueberries are useful for maintaining smooth blood flow, preventing atherosclerosis, and reducing the risk of cancer.
Complex Carbohydrates
Blueberries are known to contain 14% carbohydrates and 84% water, as well as small amounts of fat and protein. Most of the carbohydrates in blueberries are healthy carbohydrates (complex carbohydrates).
Not only that, blueberries also have a fairly low glycemic index so they don't cause a drastic increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, blueberries are good for diabetics.
Fiber
Fiber is found in many vegetables and fruits, including blueberries. This fiber content is good for controlling blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and weight, as well as preventing and treating constipation.
Mineral
Blueberries contain various minerals that are good for health, such as manganese, copper, iron, potassium, and zinc. Therefore, consumption of blueberries is good for strengthening bones and endurance.
Various Benefits of Blueberries for Health
Various important nutrients contained in blueberries make this fruit good for preventing various diseases and maintaining a healthy body. The following are some of the health benefits of blueberries:
1. Maintain heart health
Blueberries are useful to help lower cholesterol in the blood so that it can reduce the risk of heart disease. This is because blueberries contain lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can prevent fat accumulation and damage to the heart's blood vessels.
2. Maintain mental and brain health
Consuming blueberries regularly is also beneficial for supporting brain health and maintaining memory and concentration. Several studies have shown that regular consumption of blueberries and a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and dementia.
3. Prevent premature aging
One of the benefits of blueberries is to prevent premature aging. This is thanks to the content of vitamin C and antioxidants in blueberries which can stimulate the formation of collagen in the skin.
This effect makes blueberries good for preventing wrinkles, improving skin texture, and preventing skin damage from pollution and sun exposure.
4. Reduces the risk of cancer
The nutritional content in blueberries, especially vitamin C and other antioxidants can help protect the body's cells from free radical damage. These substances also help slow the development of certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer, oral cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
5. Control blood sugar
A number of studies have shown that eating berries, including blueberries, can help the body control blood sugar. Berries are enriched with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Therefore, berries are the right choice for people who have problems regulating blood sugar.
6. Reduce inflammation
Blueberries are known to be rich in vegetable components, such as flavonoids which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. As previously mentioned, blueberries are high in vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant and aids the wound healing process, boosts immunity, and provides antiaging benefits.
If you want to eat blueberries, choose blueberries that are clean, ripe, smooth-skinned, and bright blue in color. Avoid eating blueberries that are soft, wilted, and moldy.
In addition to being consumed directly, blueberries can be mixed into pancakes, various cakes, yogurt and oatmeal. You can also process it into drinks such as juice and smoothies.
However, the thing you need to remember, make sure to always wash blueberries before you eat them. This is important to do so that you avoid food poisoning or bacterial infections due to consuming dirty blueberries.
If you want to know more about the benefits of blueberries and want to add blueberries to your daily diet, consult your doctor to find out the right amount.