The Benefits of Blueberries
One of our favorite summertime treats is the blueberry. In fact, July is National Blueberry Month so we’re celebrating all the yummy ways we enjoy the blueberry – plain, in a muffin, on ice cream, in yogurt, on cereal, in a smoothie and the list goes on.
So we’ve established blueberries taste great but they also contain a whole host of healthy vitamins and minerals like C, K, B6, fiber and phosphorus that can help keep our brains and hearts healthy and reduce the risk of cancer. You might not know that blueberries also are great for healthy skin. Researchers have found blueberries can fight back against the damage UV-B rays do to the collagen in our skin.
Blueberries are such a super food the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council launched a new marketing campaign in May that positions blueberries as “little blue dynamos.”
Other benefits, according to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council include:
– Blueberries rank high in antioxidants that help protect against cancer, heart disease and other age-related diseases.
– Researchers have found compounds in blueberries that help prevent urinary tract infection.
– Just one-half cup of blueberries helps meet the recommended 5 to 9 servings a day of colorful fruits and veggies.
– A cup of blueberries has just 80 calories.
– Blueberries are in season in July in South Carolina so pick up some at a local farmers market. And check out this video on how blueberries grow.
Let us know some of your favorite way to enjoy blueberries and the best place to buy/pick them in the Charleston area.