Benefits of Blueberries in Preventing Cancer

Here is a question you get asked daily, what do prostate cancer, breast cancer, cholesterol levels, chemotherapy, antioxidants, free radicals, green tea, cancer prevention, beta-carotene, weight loss, and blueberries have in common?

Blueberries are the super-food of the century! Studies show that blueberries of all foods are the highest in antioxidants (antioxidants fight diseases including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer). A half-cup of blueberries has as much as five times the antioxidant power of other fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are also high in fiber and contain pigments that also help prevent cancer and can aid in weight loss. Not convinced yet, researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) have found that compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables blueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity.

So what if blueberries are high in antioxidants? Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals those are the nasty trash things in your body that are left over after your body takes what it needs. It is those free radicals hanging around inside you that can cause cancer and many other diseases.

Now, if you are a tea drinker you can get the same antioxidant benefits as a cup of blueberries by drinking a cup of green tea but personally I have never cared for tea and very much love my fruits. Oh and do not worry if you do not have a blueberry bush in your back yard. Studies have shown that any form is equal when it comes to blueberries: fresh, frozen, or dried they all aid in preventing cancer, lowering cholesterol, and weight loss.

That is not the end of the story though, along with helping prevent cancer blueberries also help to reduce cholesterol. It is reported in studies that blueberries also contain a natural product that is especially helpful for people who can not for some reason or another use conventional cholesterol lowering drugs. With all the resent talk about cholesterol I think we know cholesterol is bad and can lead to obesity and heart disease. Anyone who has tried to lose weight can tell you, one of the first things the doctor is going to tell you is to reduce your cholesterol.

Are blueberries on the top of your shopping list yet? If you know someone who is undergoing chemotherapy rather than sending flowers you might want to send a bowl of blueberries. There is now a rumor undergoing studies that this super food may help fight the nausea that is commonly associated with chemotherapy treatments. It also stands to reason that if they aid in relief of nausea they very well could help with other stomach related concerns.

Cancer prevention, cholesterol lowering, and weight loss are all great reasons to eat blueberries. If you still have not ran to the store to stock up on blueberries here are a few more benefits of eating blueberries: they help reverse short-term memory loss, like cranberries they can prevent urinary tract infections, and last but not least can improve night vision and relieve eyestrain. Eating blueberries can also because of their high antioxidant properties protect us from stress related illnesses, slow the aging process, prevent heart disease and strokes, and to wrap it up improve balance and coordination.