Summer = farmers markets.
You can’t walk through the farmers markets in New Jersey in June without seeing blueberries in every direction. Piles and piles of blueberries stacked on tables over here and over there. Blueberries, blueberries everywhere. What’s not to love about those little, baby blues?
Eating blueberries regularly seems to help protect the brain from the effects of aging. There’s a link between eating at least one half-cup serving of blueberries each week and a delay in cognitive aging. That’s right. Eat these blue pearls each week, and your ability to think, remember and reason will stay sharper than those who aren’t jumping on the blueberry bandwagon. Blueberries contain anthocyanidin, an antioxidant that crosses the blood-brain barrier and has beneficial activity in brain areas responsible for memory and learning.
Previously, studies had found that berries and other fruits containing antioxidants called flavonoids can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancers. Other research recently found that blueberries also appear to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease in men. With all of these health benefits, the blue gems seem like a natural addition to everyone’s table.
It doesn’t have to be a chore to use fresh blueberries. Pies, cobblers, muffins and pancakes are all delicious, agreed. But adding blueberries to your diet can be a cinch and require no lengthy prep time at all.
- Add fresh blueberries to greek yogurt with walnuts and honey.
- Drop a handful of the blue gems into your oatmeal or whole grain cereal.
- Blend a smoothie using a cup of blues, a frozen banana, milk and cocoa powder.
- Blueberries are delicious on frozen yogurt or ice cream.
- Try adding blueberries to a salad with greens, nuts and goat cheese.
- And, of course, you can eat them by the handful straight from the container.
How do you like to eat your blueberries? Let’s hear about it in the Comments below.
