New Research Shows Wild Blueberries Have Potential to Improve Heart Health
Wild Blueberries are already easy to love – but now there’s yet another reason to keep those tiny, delicious berries close to your heart. Researchers at the University of Reading (UK), the University of Dusseldorf (Germany) and the University of Northumbria (UK) have used state-of-the-art techniques to show that Wild Blueberries can improve vascular function in healthy men – that is – they’re good for your heart!
In their study, researchers learned that Wild Blueberries may help blood vessels to function better and remain healthier, meaning that the heart does not have to work as hard to circulate blood through the body. These findings are the first to link Wild Blueberry polyphenols, natural compounds that are abundant in Wild Blueberries, to improvements in vascular function in healthy men.
“For the first time, we have shown that Wild Blueberry consumption can improve endothelial function, which has been shown to be a highly sensitive marker for the overall cardiovascular risk of an individual,” said Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, PhD, from the Division of Cardiology, Pulmunology and Vascular Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany.Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos is first author of the study and a contributor to the annual Wild Blueberry Bar Harbor Research Summit.
“Importantly, even the lowest amount of Wild Blueberries tested in the study, equivalent to 3/4 cup of Wild Blueberries, was able to improve endothelial function,” noted Rodriguez-Mateos. That means that less than a cup a day of those Wild Blues (the amount, for instance, in a yummy breakfast smoothie) may be enough to help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Talk about a delicious way to stay heart healthy!
And remember, not every blueberry is a Wild Blueberry.Wild Blueberries are smaller than regular cultivated blueberries, have a more intense blueberry flavor and have double the antioxidant capacity. They are available year-round in the grocer’s frozen fruit section – so don’t wait for summer to start stocking up. Try this easy Wild Blueberry Smoothie today!
Easy Wild Blueberry Smoothie
•3/4 cup frozen Wild Blueberries
•3/4 up vanilla or plain yogurt
•1 Tbsp honey (optional)
•3-4 ice cubes
Place all ingredients in a mixer and blend at high speed until smooth.Enjoy immediately.
For more Wild Blueberry recipes, and additional research about their incredible health benefits, visit www.wildblueberries.com.
