If you’re looking for a healthy food that tastes great, you can’t do much better than blueberries. They’re not called a superfood for nothing.
The pigments in blueberries are powerful antioxidants, fighting the war against heart disease and cancer. Blueberries are ranked number one in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables. No food is as naturally potent in antioxidants as the blueberry.
Good for Your Eyes, and Memory
Blueberries have also been shown to help preserve vision, too, and recent studies indicate the little blue fruit helps prevent memory loss that comes with aging. The berries are also an excellent source of fiber, vitamins C and E, manganese and riboflavin.
If aspirin is the wonder drug, blueberries are the wonder fruit.
Scroll down for a bushel of super-delicious recipes for this super food.
Native to North America
Blueberries are one of the few fruits that are native to North America, cranberries being another of the popular ones. Blueberries were picked by native Americans for centuries from forests and bogs. They used part of the plant for medicines, and also made tea from the leaves.
Today, more than 38 states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada grow blueberries commercially. They’re harvested from mid-April through October, reaching a peak in July. In fact, since 2003, July has been officially designated as National Blueberry Month in the USA. Right now—July and August—is the ideal time to find great buys on blueberries in the produce aisle or at farmers markets.
Or perhaps you’re thinking about getting out there and picking some blueberries for yourself. Before heading out, you may want to check out these blueberry picking tips.
A versatile food
Blueberries can be used in blueberry pancakes, blueberry pies and cakes, blueberry jams and jellies, blueberry juice, blueberry muffins, and as a topping for cereals, ice cream and cheesecake. They’re a wonderful ingredient for smoothies.
Blue-tiful, flavorful recipes
Celebrate National Blueberry Month with one or more of these marvelous recipes from the Kitchens of The Food Channel.
Amazingly Moist Blueberry Cake
