Live Long and Prosper by Eating Blueberries
By Apricot Power
Newsletters
July 2018 Newsletter
In Celebration of Blueberries
July is “National Blueberry Month”. What a wonderful fruit to celebrate! Blueberries are low in calories, high in fiber and nutritional value. They can be blended into smoothies, paired nicely with whole grains, make a tasty topping for yogurt and other summertime desserts. They are great to add in your fruit salad, even delicious on their own and are one of the best summer fruits you can eat.
Live Long and Prosper
Eating blueberries are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, beta-carotene, folate, choline and copper are all found in blueberries.
One of the main benefits of blueberries is they are rich in fiber, antioxidants and plant compounds. That means they may help slow the aging process!
Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to things in the environment like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. They may benefit heart and brain health, help with the aging process, and help regulate blood sugar levels.
Loads of Great Benefits
Blueberries offer a lot of excellent nutritional benefits. In fact, they may help...
- Reduce DNA damage, which may help protect against aging
- Lower blood pressure
- Promote heart health
- Promote skin health
- Improve brain function and memory
- Lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity
- Reduce muscle damage after exercising
- Weight loss
- Support digestion
- Maintain healthy bones
Raw or Frozen
Eating fresh is always the best way to go, but when berries are out of season there are other ways to blueberries into your body. Many people use frozen blueberries in their smoothies. There have been studies that show the nutritional value of blueberries declines when they are frozen, but the antioxidant levels actually increase for a brief period of time.
Apricot Power offers a nutritional, raw Blueberry Whole Food bar that you can eat year round. It’s a “clean” bar, which means it’s not processed. Our bar is packed with blueberries, nuts, grains, and seeds. Plus, it’s the only whole food bar in the world that is packed with the power of B17.
Raw Blueberry Bites Recipe
Last year we ran a SuperFood Mix Recipe Contest and one of our wonderful contestants, Maiah Miller, submitted a delicious and nutritious berry bite recipe using Goji berries.
It turns out it that her recipe also tastes great with blueberries. It’s quick, easy, and a great on-the-run energy snack. Give it a try.
What the Heck is...
There is a lot of confusion in the world of vitamins and supplements and their ingredients. This column focuses on a specific vitamin or supplement and its ingredients. This month we are featuring a supplement called Previn-Ca.
Not a City In California
Previn-Ca is a comprehensive blend of potent herb and fruit extracts has been designed to provide a broad spectrum of “flavonoids” to support antioxidant activity and effectiveness.
It’s All About the Flavinoids
What is a flavinoid you ask?
Flavinoids are powerful antioxidants said to have anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits. They are phytonutrients (or plant-based chemicals) that can be found in almost all fruits and vegetables.
Flavinoids have been associated with longevity, may help prevent cardiovascular disease, improve vascular health, may help protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and increase blood flow to the brain improving cognitive function.
Several Significant Groups
There are several significant groups of flavinoids each originating from different foods and each having their own distinct set of actions and benefits.
For instance “Flavonols” are associated with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities leading to chronic disease prevention.
“Anthocyanidins” are associated with heart health, antioxidant effects and helping with obesity and diabetes prevention.
Previn-Ca includes a broad spectrum of natural flavinoids to enhance good health.
KEY INGREDIENTS
Quercetin: A naturally occurring bioflavonoid that may help sustain a balanced immune system
Bromelain: An enzyme found in the stems of pineapples that may reduce inflammation.
Turmeric Root Extract: A spice that may have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Milk Thistle Extract: An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that may improve insulin resistance.
Grape Seed Extract: An extract that may reduce edema (swelling) and have some heart benefits, including lowering systolic blood pressure & heart rate.
Rosemary (Leaf): An aromatic herb that may protect against macular degeneration, improve concentration, aid with digestion, & reduce brain aging.