Blueberries - Are They A Super Fruit?

Some individuals have always stated that some fruits, nuts or vegetables are super foods. This is a contentious topic, but it has to be the case that some foodstuffs are better for you than others, but whether it is justifiable to hype up a foodstuff for a quick sale is another issue. Blueberries are a case in point. Are blueberries a super fruit or not?

Proponents of blueberries say that they are rich in antioxidants and that they are able to improve vision and relieve eye strain; improve brain and memory functions and resist urinary tract infections (UTI's). Blueberries are said to be rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, but what are they?

Well, antioxidants are said to counteract the effects of oxidation and free radicals, which are frequently linked to the development of cancer and anthocyanins are a form of flavonoids, which are also an anti-carcinogen.

Blueberries are also in the bottom category of the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index uses white bread as the marker against which every foodstuff is calculated. Above 70 is thought to be high; between 56 and 59 is medium and below 55 is low. Blueberries, at 53, is at the high end of low. This is not vital knowledge for lots of people, but it is important for dieters and diabetics.

Blueberries are said to improve eyesight because of the anthocyanins, which strengthen the capillaries, which would help the flow of blood to the eyes, which may help preserve vision. This would relieve eye strain or eye tiredness

If this helps preserve vision, it would also delay hair loss, because hair loss is normally associated with a lack of blood/nutrition to the hair follicles which then just die of starvation, as in male pattern baldness.

Blueberries are a fruit high in flavonoids which are antioxidants as stated above. Some people claim that flavonoids can improve the connections between neurons in the brain, which would almost certainly increase mental capacity.

It might also slow down the deterioration of brain cells and so also the traditionally-perceived decline in mental capacity that is associated with increasing age. If this is the case, then the consumption of blueberries would also help slow down the progression of lack of motor control: that is, it could help the elderly move more naturally, less inelegantly.

However, the same individuals will admit that to create a 5-6% improvement in motor skills would almost certainly take a daily consumption of about 100 grammes per day, which is naturally not an insignificant amount, even if you like them and cultivate them yourself.

It has also been stated that the daily consumption of blueberries reduces the level of LDL in the blood, which is popularly called 'bad cholesterol'.

If you would like to test the effects of eating blueberries on yourself, here are a few suggestions on how you can incorporate them into your diet.

Fresh blueberries: eat when in season and freeze as many as you can get hold of.

Frozen blueberries: cook in pancakes, muffins and put in home-made ice-cream.

Dried blueberries: eat like raisins as a snack or coat in chocolate.

In this way, you will be able to answer the question for yourself: blueberries are they a super fruit?

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of topics, and is now involved with detox diet menu. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at http://vegetariancasserolerecipes.com

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What Is a Super Fruit?

We're all trying to eat better these days, and for the most part it's not very hard to do. But what you'll find more often than not on food labels is the mention of something called a "super fruit." Just what is a super fruit? Does it have some special benefits beyond other fruits? Has it been proven to hold the key to healthiness? Read on and I'll let you know the skinny on super fruits.

The term is as loose as they come, though that doesn't necessarily mean it get added to foods that don't warrant its use. Commonly, "superfruit" is a commercial marketing term created to entice customers and convince them that the various products containing the mythical fruits are somehow better than products that don't have the ingredient.

More simply, super fruits fall into a set of criteria that all seems rather arbitrary such as perceived customer novelty, the proposed health benefits the fruits provide, the ability of the fruits to mask the flavors of other foods, the rapidness with which farmers can grow them, and how many products they can be innovated into.

So it sounds like it's just a big marketing scheme, right? Well, not quite. Fruits like blueberries, cranberries, and pomegranates have been a part of this list for quite some time, and scientists have been able to show that those are some of the healthiest foods in the world. However, other worthy candidates such as apples, oranges, and strawberries seem to get looked over by the food industry for this special labeling, for seemingly no reason.

All that means is that it's good news for you. A super fruit is only what you make it out to be, so even if you can't afford a pomegranate, a cheaply-priced apple is just as good. It all depends on what you choose to make from the fruit as their biggest selling point is how much variety can be squeezed, sometimes quite literally, out of one small food item. Apples can be baked into pies. Grapes can be converted into juice. Blueberries go great in pancakes. Strawberries can be freeze-dried and put into a trail mix. The versatility of these fruits are amazing!

So whether you want to believe the marketing jargon or not, super fruits do exist, just perhaps not exactly by the standards that companies are trying to tell you. The bottom line is that fruits are a cheap source of vitamins and minerals and they go great with anything, especially if you're just planning a small snack. They provide natural energy and long-lasting benefits, so why not grab one today?

For more about finding a vegetarian diet or how to live a vegetarian lifestyle, check out VegOnline.org today!

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Antioxidant Super Fruit: Maqui Berries

Maqui berries are one of the newest power berries now on the market. Discovered in Central America, these berries have a variety of amazing health benefits. They also have a refreshing and smooth taste that makes drinking Maqui juice enjoyable.
A maqui berry is small and oval shaped, it looks like a purple coffee bean. They were discovered in Chili and were used by the natives medicinally. The berries were used to reduce fevers and swelling. The leaves from the same plant were crushed and used as an astringent for sore throats. France began exporting the berries for adding color and flavor to wines. The potential of these berries as a health food has only recently been discovered. 
One of the greatest things about maqui berries is their high antioxidant levels. They contain far more antioxidants than acai or blueberries. Antioxidants are vital for overall health and wellbeing. They help rid the body of toxins that have entered our body through processed foods, pollutants, and even personal care products. Many people find that they feel sluggish or sore and have no idea why. When these toxins build up in the body, it stresses and strains the entire system. Antioxidants also fight free radicals, which have been linked to premature aging and to cancer.
People who are looking to use maqui berries as a cleanse or a supplement have two options. It can be consumed in juice form, or it can be taken in capsules. Many people find that they enjoy the taste of the juice, though it tastes differently than they expect it to. A serving size is usually just one tablespoon, and each bottle will typically contain thirty-two servings. Look for juice that is made with one hundred percent organic fruit juice. Other juices like blueberry or raspberry may also be blended. Be aware of the sugar content and avoid products that have more than three grams of sugar. Capsules are another option. These contain freeze dried maqui berry extracts. The dosage and amount of capsules will vary by different products. Again, check to be sure that the capsules contain one hundred percent maqui berry extract.
This new super berry has many health benefits. People looking for a way to improve their overall health should consider adding maqui berries to the diet. Try the juice or capsules today!

Information like this will help you discover total body health using maqui berries and also how to get free bottles of maqui berries.

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Fitness Tips For Baby Boomers - Do You Know the 7 Awesome Health Benefits of Eating Fresh Fruit?

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I am sure that you have heard this expression. Well, there is a lot of truth underlying the benefits of eating fresh fruit of all varieties. Nature definitely knows what she is doing by providing and offering for us these sweet foods of the Earth. If you are tempted to skip the recommended three to four servings of fruit per day, you are definitely losing a lot of benefits in doing so. In this article, you will discover the 7 awesome health benefits of eating fresh fruit.

How To Eat Fruit

Dried Fruit

To get the absolute best benefit from eating fruit is to first of all always eat it fresh, and to secondly to eat the entire fruit. Whole fruit has the most fiber, and it tends to be lower in sugar than fruit juices and dried fruits which are usually also much higher in calories. (Also fruit, generally, should be washed before consumption.)

The 7 Awesome Benefits of Eating Fresh Fruit

Benefit #1 - Helps To Regulate Your Body's Digestive Process - Fruit function as natural laxatives. They provide fiber that is important in helping your body get rid of waste material through the colon.

Benefit #2 - Contains Important Vitamins That Protect the Body From Illnesses - Strawberries, oranges and other citrus fruit contain vitamins C, A and E which help the body protect itself from the harmful effects to the body-cell systems as a result of the negative elements in the environment resulting from the pollution of factories, cars and other air toxins.

Benefit #3 - May Slow Down the Effects of Aging - The bright color pigments of many fruit like the blue of blueberries or the red in cranberries contain substances called phytonutrients which contain extremely powerful anti-cancer causing agents called antioxidants.

Benefit #4 - Has Been Shown in Studies To Prevent the Deterioration of the Brain - Many conditions and symptoms of such diseases as Alzheimer's may be ameliorated through the regulation consumption of fresh fruit.

Benefit #5 - Helps With Weight Loss - Rapid weight loss is accelerated by eating fruit which helps to fill the stomach faster by removing cravings to eat high-calorie fat-gaining food.

Benefit #6 - Helps To Reduce High Cholesterol Levels - Studies have shown that regular consumption of fresh fruit may lower high cholesterol levels.

Benefit #7 - Helps To Reduce Inflammation - Tart cherries and apples have shown in studies to reduce the flare ups of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Fitness Tips For Baby Boomers - Do You Know the 7 Awesome Health Benefits of Eating Fresh Fruit?

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Why Buy Pure Acai Berry Supplement From Freeze Dried Organic Acai Berry Fruit?

While there is no doubt about the fact that Acai Berry is one of the best new Superfoods in terms of its antioxidant and nutritional value, it also pays to take care when you buy pure Acai Berry supplement. These should be manufactured using the whole fruit and not from just juice extract.

Pure Acai Berry capsules can be purchased online at http://www.weightlossreviewed.info/pureacaiberry. It is made from 100% pure freeze dried and certified pure organic Acai Berry containing all the health benefits that you deserve in a capsule form. You can be assured of its purity with the Certificate of Analysis available on the website.

 

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Heal Injuries and Stop Inflammation With Fruit!

Whether you are a sports enthusiast, you work on projects around the house, or spend time gardening, you like so many hikers are at risk for injuries. Many people find themselves in the emergency room due to accidents around the house or due to sporting events. Women who are older are often at higher risk for injury to muscle and bones due to osteoporosis, so it is important to take measures to protect yourself from injuries by eating properly, resting, participating in regular exercise to keep muscles and bones stronger and taking the nutrients needed to support your muscular-skeletal system. In general the body requires protein to keep the muscles and bones stronger, along with calcium and magnesium. But who would have thought that your body's best friend after injury might just be a fruit!

Every continent of this world is blessed with certain plants that contain elements to help us stay well and heal from various maladies. What I am going to share with you here might just be a life-saver if you are unable to get help quickly after an injury. Even the smell of this fruit puts smiles on many faces as they think about cool ocean breezes, sandy beaches and coconuts filled with frozen pina-coladas. No, it is not the coconut we are going to discuss, it is the delicious golden pineapple! That's right - pineapple my friends is an incredible blessing for several reasons, so read carefully and get to your local grocery store to keep some fresh pineapple on hand whenever possible.

Dried Fruit

If you do injure yourself and are unable to get immediate medical care, please keep a home care emergency kit nearby. Your homecare kit should include bandages, calendula and hypericum tinctures found at your local health food store to treat minor wounds, a homeopathic remedy called arsenicum; use the lotion and or ointment for sprains and muscle injuries and aloe vera gel for skin irritations. Raw honey is great as a natural antiseptic in a pinch, and also you can also take a small amount for energy if you have been hiking all day and feel fatigued. But the very best anti-inflammatory I have ever used from nature is fresh pineapple, or chewable Bromelain tablets made from the core of pineapple. This substance works in several different ways to help your body heal. Bromelain aids the body in reducing inflammation because it is a proteolytic enzyme, an enzyme that digests protein. I have found that bromelain is the preferred way to take the substance because it travels easily.

During an injury cells become damaged. These damaged protein cells also die and must be broken down and excreted in order to aid healing and reduce toxic build-up at the site. Bromelain has a wonderful ability to help reduce swelling as well as bruising; it is also rich in potassium and therefore helps to remove toxins from the cells acting like a natural diuretic. If you cannot find chewable bromelain tablets for some reason, purchase the most natural form of bromelain you can find in capsule or tablet form without coating or other substances. I do not recommend the fancy combination formulations because they are generally not as effective as plain old bromelain in my opinion.

Another bit of information about the pineapple enzyme called bromelain is that it has an extremely wonderful side benefit which can prove beneficial during a major trauma to muscle, bone, and all tissue in general; it has the ability to help dissolve blood clots which are often present during massive injuries. Since blood clots can be extremely dangerous, and can even be the cause of death after traumas, keeping some bromelain on hand, or at least 100% pure pineapple juice in the refrigerator, is a very smart idea. I also drink fresh pineapple juice and eat fresh pineapple before and after strenuous workouts. And since long plane trips cause blood to pool in the legs predisposing people to poor circulation and potential blood clots, I drink pineapple juice before long flights or car trips too. In a real pinch I might even take some dried pineapple with me. It is really suggested that we rehydrate the dried fruit before consuming as it is too concentrated and can cause bowel problems if you eat too much of it. But, you can easily rehydrate dried pineapple overnight in a jar of water if you are a camper or hiker.

If you ever want to test the effect that fresh pineapple, or even canned pineapple, has on protein tissue just pour a can of pineapple on a piece of meat overnight. If you want to ruin your sugar baked ham, just cook the entire ham with a can of pineapple in a slow cooker overnight; in the morning you will have a nice lump of gooey ham that appears to have been placed in a blender. I know from experience that pineapple is one of the best meat tenderizers, similar to papaya often used in meat tenderizers.

You never know when you will fall or injure yourself, but you can take simple and quick measures to protect yourself until you can get to see a doctor. Always check with your doctor before adding any new substance to your diet as some medications may conflict with some foods. If you are allowed to eat pineapple then I would definitely keep some form of it on hand for times when your body needs help healing from an injury.

Wishing you wellness!

Heal Injuries and Stop Inflammation With Fruit!

Janet Angel is a sought-after wellness expert with advanced degrees in nutritional biochemistry and psychology. She believes that everyone needs to educate themselves on the wellness opportunities available around the world. Dr. Angel has counseled many prominent citizens across the United States and has participated in several international research programs surrounding health. She has been a guest on many radio programs, is a public speaker, author and seminar leader. Dr. Angel believes that the body has the innate ability to heal itself in most circumstances, given the right environment, the right elements and the opportunity. For further information on her drive to help others reach their fullest potential, please go to http://www.Totallywell.com For financial wellness ideas go to [http://www.LinkToCashNow.com]

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Are Cranberries a Low Carb Fruit?

It's a simple enough question, but the answer can be elusive, especially because it depends on what kind of cranberries we're talking about: fresh, juiced or dried.

Fresh Cranberries

Dried Fruit

If we're talking about 100g of ordinary, raw cranberries, the carbohydrate figures according to wikipedia are as follows: dietary fibre = 4.6g; total sugars = 4.04. These figures might confuse some of us however, because as low carb dieters we are advised to subtract dietary fiber from total carbohydrates to calculate "net carbs" which is the figure we really care about (dietary fiber is a carbohydrate, but it is not digested so doesn't contribute to raising blood sugar levels).

As wikipedia lists only total sugars and not total carbohydrates, its necessary to check another reputable source to see if they list total carbs. The calorie counter at about.com gives us the following numbers for 1 cup (95g) of cranberries: dietary fiber = 4.4g; sugars = 3.8g; total carbohydrates = 11.6g. Subtracting the fiber from the total gives us 7.2g net carbs, which is low enough for us to conclude that cranberries are a low carb fruit. So far so good, except that we hardly ever eat cranberries raw, we are more likely to drink their juice or eat them dried.

Cranberry Juice

If we're talking about 95g of cranberry juice, these figures from the National Agricultural Library should be interesting: dietary fiber = 0.1g; sugars = 11.49g; total carbohydrates = 11.59g, giving us net carbs of 11.49g (11.59 - 0.1). In other words, gram for gram, cranberry juice contains 1.5 times as many net carbs as raw cranberries. But how often would we drink just 95g of juice?

A typical cup holds 253g of liquid. Using a cup as our new unit of measurement gives us 7.2g net carbs for raw cranberries and a whopping 30.57g net carbs for cranberry juice! Although fundamentally cranberries are a low carb fruit, when you consider how many cranberries must be used to produce a single glass of juice, and the fact that most of the fiber is removed, its easy to see how concentrated the sugar content would be.

Now if that's not bad enough, most cranberry juice has extra sugar added to it because the pure stuff is simply too sour for most people's tastes. So unless it's a specially processed cranberry juice made with artificial sweetener, you're probably best to avoid cranberry juice on a low carb diet.

Craisins

Finally, let's consider dried cranberries, popularly known as "craisins". Unfortunately, most commercially available craisins are loaded with sugar for the same reason cranberry juices are - plain dried cranberries are too sour for most people. The exact net carb count for a cup of dried craisins would depend on the brand because each producer has its own production process, but suffice it to say that unless they are artificially sweetened, dried cranberries are not low carb fruit.

If you're lucky enough to get a hold of dried unsweetened cranberries, the net carb count on a gram for gram basis will still be higher than for fresh ones simply because they are smaller, so you can fit more of them into 95g than you can the raw fruit.

So are cranberries a low carb fruit? In theory yes, but in practice, the answer is often no.

Are Cranberries a Low Carb Fruit?

Campbell Smith is an Internet Marketer from New Zealand. He is interested in health and fitness, especially the way different diets affect our minds and bodies.

Low Carb Diet Food < - A new site I am working on:)

National Agricultural Library < - A great resource for calculating the nutritional values of various foods.

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