7 Ways Blueberries Can Boost Your Health

Last Updated on December 10, 2020

3. Reduce levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol

Also known as “bad” cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol is a substance produced in the liver that is present in all body cells. Having an excessive level of this substance in the blood can lead to plaque formation, which in turn contributes to the development of coronary heart disease. When this cholesterol gets damaged by chemical interactions with free radicals, it turns into oxidized LDL cholesterol. Risk factors that may contribute to increasing oxidized LDL cholesterol levels include smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, poor diet, stress, exposure to toxins, and metabolic syndrome. This problem can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition that drastically increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, two leading causes of death. Some health experts believe that the antioxidants contained in blueberries can reduce the levels of oxidized LDL.

4. Promote hearth health

Keeping blood pressure within reasonable limits and reducing the levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol are in themselves great ways to promote heart health. But blueberries can also help you on other fronts. Anthocyanins antioxidants belong to the flavonoids family and are the main antioxidants found in blueberries. According to a study published in 2013, these specific antioxidants can lower the risk of heart attack by about 30% in young and middle-aged women. These conclusions were drawn after analyzing a sample of more than 90 thousand women aged 25 to 42. This was an observational study, so it is impossible to prove that the reduction in the risk of heart attack was due exclusively to the increased intake of blueberries and strawberries.

5. May reduce the risk of cancer

Blueberries are among the foods that can prevent cancer. This statement may seem too good to be true, but we all know that our diet strongly influences our health and, in this case, the probability of developing some forms of cancer. There are a lot of scientific studies that have shown that foods high in certain antioxidants may help protect cells against DNA damage caused by free radicals. Compared with other common fruits and vegetables, blueberries have one of the highest levels of antioxidants (flavonoids is the main antioxidant, in case you are wondering). These studies suggest that antioxidants may inhibit tumor growth and decrease inflammation in the body, which may have some impact on the prevention of lung, mouth, prostate, and colon cancer, among others. These results are extremely promising, but a lot more research is still needed before we can say that this specific benefit is scientifically proven.
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