Last Updated on December 10, 2020
Blueberries are amazing in many different ways. Besides being delicious, these small fruits in shades of blue and purple remind us of summer days, blue-stained hands, blueberry juice, and homemade pies. The fact that they are extremely delicate and have to be hand-picked also contributes to giving this fruit an even more special aura.
In terms of their nutritional value and health benefits, blueberries are on a whole new level. That’s probably why they have become incredibly popular among nutritionists and are part of all sorts of diets. Not only are they a low-calorie fruit, but they also contain a large number of antioxidants. These antioxidants, together with other vitamins and nutrients, can help the human body on several fronts.
Nutrition facts (per 100mg):
Calories: 57
Total fat: 0.3 g
Sodium: 1.0 mg
Carbohydrates: 14.5 g
Fiber: 2.4 g
Sugars: 10 g
Protein: 0.7 g
Vitamin C: 9.7 mg (16% DV)
Vitamin K1: 19.3 mcg (24% DV)
Manganese: 0.3 g (17% DV)
Without further ado, here are the seven benefits of blueberries that make this fruit a superfood:
1. Improve skin health
You probably already heard about a protein called collagen. Among other things, it provides structure to the skin and helps protect it against aging and UV and pollution damage. That’s why many beauty products use collagen as a buzzword to advertise their products’ benefits – such as improved skin texture, for example. It’s a trick to increase sales, of course, but it contains a grain of truth since these products do contain collagen. So, what are the benefits of blueberries for the skin, and why are we talking about collagen, you ask? Well, blueberries don’t contain collagen, obviously. But as we have shown above, they are a great source of vitamin C. This vitamin stimulates the body’s collagen production and improves its capacity to repair damaged skin.
2. Help keep blood pressure under control
Blueberries can play a key role in the regulation of blood pressure. At least among certain groups of people such as postmenopausal women and obese people. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition back in 2010 concluded that the daily consumption of blueberries could reduce blood pressure in obese people by up to 6%. It might seem like a low drop, but it can be crucial to keep blood pressure levels under control and prevent a series of dangerous complications.
