Blueberries Nutrition

By: Wendy Adams

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Improve health by adding essential blueberries nutrition to your daily diet. Blueberries are low in calories, high in soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that help protect your health and should be a part of a healthy diet.

Calories. The best news about blueberries is they are low in calories. There are 57 calories in about 2/3 of a cup of blueberries.

Antioxidants. Blueberries have the highest concentration of antioxidants derived from polyphenolic (bioflavonoids) anthocyanidin (red pigment) compounds which protect the body from infections, colds, and in general, protect health.

Flavonoids. The antioxidants in blueberries include flavonoid antioxidants beta carotene (vitamin A, which is essential for eye health), lutien, and zeaxanthin which lower the risk of developing cataracts.

Phytochemicals. Most plants contain phytochemicals but blueberries have them in abundance. Phyochemical compounds help protect the body from diseases like cancer, infections, degenerative diseases, and symptoms of aging.

Chlorogenic acid. Bluberries contain chlorogenic acid that is instrumental in lowering blood sugar levels and helps control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Adding blueberries to the diet can be a method of prevention for type 2 diabetes.

Good source of vitamins. Blueberries contain important vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E. Other vitamins include B-complex group of vitamins including niacin, pyridoxine, folates, and pantothenic acid. Blueberries contain B-6, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and folic acid. All the vitamins in blueberries help the body metabolize carbohydrate, fats, and protein for overall health.

Minerals. Blueberries are rich in minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, iron and zinc that help build red blood cells and healthy bones.

Posted on: May. 13, 2011