Blueberries, one of the few fruits native to North America.
Since my blueberry bush is going off right now, in it's honor let's look at blueberries. Well first off, is there anything more delicious to the eye, the taste, and the soul than a bowl of fresh picked blueberries? Blueberries grow in many places around the world. Cousins of the north american blueberry live in Asia, Europe, and South America, from the tropics to far north. Blueberries were here when the first wave of settlers arrived. In 1615, explorer Samuel de Champlain wrote about seeing natives along Lake Huron harvesting wild blueberries. The natives dried the berries, beat them into a pulp, and dried them into a powder. Which they combined with cornmeal, honey and water to make a pudding. Native americans used the berries, leaves, and roots for medicinal purposes. The fruit was also used as a blue fabric dye. The native americans held the wild blueberry in very high esteem. They believed the "Great Spirit" sent these star berries to relieve the hunger of children during times of famine. Natives also used blueberries for medicine, and made a healing tea from the root. It was used as a relaxant during childbirth. Natives taught this to the pilgrims, and early medical books show how this same tea was prescribed for settlers wives during labor. Blueberry juice was used for coughs, and tea made from blueberry leaves is a good tonic to help purify the blood.
Guess
who else likes blueberries, anyone?... Bears, that's who, and I have
had the experience, of blundering into a close encounter with some bears
while wild blueberry picking. This is a very humbling experience.
Sometimes I was told, wild
bears will eat nothing but blueberries when
they are in season. That in fact, it has been documented that they will
travel with
an empty stomach, from ten to fifteen miles per day to sniff out a
blueberry patch. The blueberry harvest in North America varies. It can
start as early as May and usually ends in late summer. The principle
areas of commercial production are in the Southern Hemisphere,
Australia, Chile, New
Zealand, and Argentina. Here in southern California we
are lucky to have this little "power plant" year round.
Did
you know eating blueberries can help improve your vision, make your
blood
flow easier, and lower your cholesterol. Blueberries
are packed with antioxidant power, they fight disease on multiple
levels, and are an underused tool for good health. Blueberries owe some
of their health benefits to
the high levels of naturally occurring antioxidant phytonutrients, or
flavonoids that offer
protection from oxidative damage. That is responsible for many
age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis,
weakening of eyesight, and memory among others. Blueberry
juice, and fresh blueberries can also help fight urinary tract
infections. Blueberries
are also beneficial for your brain. On a test tube level, we know
blueberry
antioxidants activate two brain-protective enzymes, catalase and
superoxide dismutase. These are the enzymes that keep neurons from being
deactivated after they are attacked by free radicals.
Scientists at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center, and the University of Montreal in Canada even believe that blueberry juice will be the source of treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and age-related memory problems, and that eating blueberries can offer similar benefits now. Also, Blueberries can help curb obesity, a recent study reports. The study was conducted at Texas Woman's University. The lipid content in the control group was significantly higher than the content of the tissue given three doses of blueberry polyphenols. The highest dose of blueberry polyphenols yielded a 73% decrease in blood lipids. While the lowest dose still showed a 27% decrease. According to Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, blueberries have the highest antioxidant level of all fruit. All berries for that matter won, hands down, in providing the most antioxidant bang for the buck. Their statement is that; "Antioxidants help prevent cancer and slow down aging, by dispensing of free radicals in your body." "Blueberries also promote urinary tract health, eye health, brain health, and digestive health." Blueberries are also a healthy source of vitamin C, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin E.
Ronald Prior, PhD, a chemist and nutritionist with the USDA's Arkansas Nutrition Center, explains "bio-availability
has to do with the amount of absorption, or metabolism in the gut." Dr. Prior added that some
foods even benefit from a bit of cooking. One of his studies showed that by
mildly steaming blueberries, the antioxidant level was enhanced, making
more antioxidants available to the body. Wild blueberries are the
winner overall. Just one cup has 13,427 total antioxidants. That's about 10 times the USDA's recommendation, in just
one cup. Cultivated blueberries have 9,019 per cup and are equally
vitamin-rich. At
a 2007 symposium on berry health benefits, reports showed consumption
of blueberries, and similar berry fruits may
alleviate the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease, and
other conditions of aging. Proanthocyanidin, a chemical isolated from
blueberry leaves, can block replication of the hepatitis C virus. Dr. Arpita Basu, an assistant professor of nutrition at Oklahoma State University,
showed in several laboratory-based animal, and cell studies that
anthocyanins, found in blueberries, cause blood vessels to relax, and
increase production of nitric oxide that helps in maintaining normal
blood pressure. Research at Rutgers has also shown that blueberries may
help prevent urinary tract infections. A study soon to be published in
the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
found supplementation of diets with wild blueberry juice enhanced
memory and learning in older adults, while reducing blood sugar, and
some symptoms of depression.
BEWARE !! In June 2013 the Environmental Working Group rated pesticides in blueberries a significant concern, based on the most recent USDA laboratory test data. Domestic US blueberries were scored at number 10/12 in the "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits with the most pesticide residue in the supermarket. Imported variety's were better, 23 out of 53 rated fruits and vegetables. So like I always say buy ORGANIC ! It is near to impossible to remove pesticide residues completely from fruit. Pesticides and herbicides are formulated to stick to the fruit so they won't wash off in the rain.
There is no downside to eating plain organic blueberries, except that if you eat enough to make a black bear jealous, your digestive tract is going to slow down to handle all the pectin. Now here's one downside, blueberries don't mix well with the casein protein in milk, ice cream etc. it blocks the antioxidant absorption much the same way it does in green tea. Free Radical Biology and Medicine investigated whether antioxidant properties of blueberries were reduced because of their affinity for protein. They assessed the bioavailability of phenolics after consumption of blueberries with and without milk. Phenolics are the active compounds in plants that give blueberries their antioxidant potential. This study suggests that the best way to gain maximum benefits from blueberries and other fruits eaten for their polyphenol (anti-oxident) content is to consume them either one hour before protein is consumed, or two hours after. This does not affect the vitamin benefits however. Up to a quarter cup of delicious blueberries every day for kids and up to a whole cup of blueberries every day for adults offers all the benefits of blueberries in a delicious experience. One of the major attractions of blueberries is that they are tasty all by themselves, no sweetener needed. As I said I purchased my own blueberry bush from the local nursery, and it rocks!
So who doesn't want to look younger, and be healthier. Blueberries can be purchased at farm markets, pick-your-own farms, grocery stores or buy your own bush. Not able to purchase fresh berries? No problem. Frozen fruit is just as healthy as fresh fruit. Check out the selection in the frozen section of your local grocery store. Good Luck...
Since my blueberry bush is going off right now, in it's honor let's look at blueberries. Well first off, is there anything more delicious to the eye, the taste, and the soul than a bowl of fresh picked blueberries? Blueberries grow in many places around the world. Cousins of the north american blueberry live in Asia, Europe, and South America, from the tropics to far north. Blueberries were here when the first wave of settlers arrived. In 1615, explorer Samuel de Champlain wrote about seeing natives along Lake Huron harvesting wild blueberries. The natives dried the berries, beat them into a pulp, and dried them into a powder. Which they combined with cornmeal, honey and water to make a pudding. Native americans used the berries, leaves, and roots for medicinal purposes. The fruit was also used as a blue fabric dye. The native americans held the wild blueberry in very high esteem. They believed the "Great Spirit" sent these star berries to relieve the hunger of children during times of famine. Natives also used blueberries for medicine, and made a healing tea from the root. It was used as a relaxant during childbirth. Natives taught this to the pilgrims, and early medical books show how this same tea was prescribed for settlers wives during labor. Blueberry juice was used for coughs, and tea made from blueberry leaves is a good tonic to help purify the blood.


Scientists at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center, and the University of Montreal in Canada even believe that blueberry juice will be the source of treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and age-related memory problems, and that eating blueberries can offer similar benefits now. Also, Blueberries can help curb obesity, a recent study reports. The study was conducted at Texas Woman's University. The lipid content in the control group was significantly higher than the content of the tissue given three doses of blueberry polyphenols. The highest dose of blueberry polyphenols yielded a 73% decrease in blood lipids. While the lowest dose still showed a 27% decrease. According to Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, blueberries have the highest antioxidant level of all fruit. All berries for that matter won, hands down, in providing the most antioxidant bang for the buck. Their statement is that; "Antioxidants help prevent cancer and slow down aging, by dispensing of free radicals in your body." "Blueberries also promote urinary tract health, eye health, brain health, and digestive health." Blueberries are also a healthy source of vitamin C, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin E.

BEWARE !! In June 2013 the Environmental Working Group rated pesticides in blueberries a significant concern, based on the most recent USDA laboratory test data. Domestic US blueberries were scored at number 10/12 in the "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits with the most pesticide residue in the supermarket. Imported variety's were better, 23 out of 53 rated fruits and vegetables. So like I always say buy ORGANIC ! It is near to impossible to remove pesticide residues completely from fruit. Pesticides and herbicides are formulated to stick to the fruit so they won't wash off in the rain.
There is no downside to eating plain organic blueberries, except that if you eat enough to make a black bear jealous, your digestive tract is going to slow down to handle all the pectin. Now here's one downside, blueberries don't mix well with the casein protein in milk, ice cream etc. it blocks the antioxidant absorption much the same way it does in green tea. Free Radical Biology and Medicine investigated whether antioxidant properties of blueberries were reduced because of their affinity for protein. They assessed the bioavailability of phenolics after consumption of blueberries with and without milk. Phenolics are the active compounds in plants that give blueberries their antioxidant potential. This study suggests that the best way to gain maximum benefits from blueberries and other fruits eaten for their polyphenol (anti-oxident) content is to consume them either one hour before protein is consumed, or two hours after. This does not affect the vitamin benefits however. Up to a quarter cup of delicious blueberries every day for kids and up to a whole cup of blueberries every day for adults offers all the benefits of blueberries in a delicious experience. One of the major attractions of blueberries is that they are tasty all by themselves, no sweetener needed. As I said I purchased my own blueberry bush from the local nursery, and it rocks!
So who doesn't want to look younger, and be healthier. Blueberries can be purchased at farm markets, pick-your-own farms, grocery stores or buy your own bush. Not able to purchase fresh berries? No problem. Frozen fruit is just as healthy as fresh fruit. Check out the selection in the frozen section of your local grocery store. Good Luck...
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Flex -Appeal is currently offering, for new customers, a 2 for 1 personal training special that allows you to enjoy a one month personal training program. This is the perfect opportunity to get personally trained and bring a friend or spouse for FREE! Or Split The First Months Cost !!
Flex-Appeal Personal Training Service, the publisher of Doc's Fitness Tip's is Located In Dana Point, Ca. Our 20+ years of personal training experience also proudly serves the communities of, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, and MissionViejo,Ca.
Flex -Appeal is currently offering, for new customers, a 2 for 1 personal training special that allows you to enjoy a one month personal training program. This is the perfect opportunity to get personally trained and bring a friend or spouse for FREE! Or Split The First Months Cost !!
But, hurry fast, this offer will end soon!
Call - (949) 443-0133 for details on how to receive Orange County's premier personal trainer experience!
Call - (949) 443-0133 for details on how to receive Orange County's premier personal trainer experience!
Or you may be interested in trying A NO COST Introductory personal
trainer workout or diet consultation by phone, Skype or in person!
For the best Personal Fitness Training in Orange County, California:
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