Blueberries

Blueberries are small fruit of a bush tree that belongs to the heath (ericaceous) family. Other members of this family include cranberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. These berries grow in clusters and range in size from the size of a pea, the size of a marble. The color often varies from maroon to purple black. The flesh of blueberries are semi-transparent and encases tiny seeds. Grown berries are mildly sweet, while those that grow in the wild are more tart and tangy in taste.

They are round and flat in shape. They have a crown as the structure at the bottom, and a depressed ring on top of fruit. Blueberries are usually about 1 / 2 inches in diameter. These berries are indigenous to North America, where they grow in abundance in the mountains, forests in the U.S. and Canada. On an average, there are about 30 different varieties of blueberries available. They were not cultivated until the early 20 century when they were grown commercially in the year the 1916th

Nutritional Profile:

140 grams of Blueberries contain the following:

Calories - 100
Total Fat - 1 g
Cholesterol - 0 mg
Sodium - 0 mg
Saturated fat - 0 g
Fiber - 3 g
Total Carbohydrate - 27 g
Sugar - 11 g
Protein - 1 g
Vitamin C - 15%
Iron - 2%.

Varieties of blueberries:

Blueberry-Brigitte: This variety is a late season variety produces large, firm and clear blue berries. Bush of this variety is erect and usually grows to a height of about 6 meters. Fruit borne by the variety is great, crisp and rich in flavor and texture. Thus, they do an excellent opportunity for freezing and eating fresh. Fruit ripens towards the end of August.

Blueberry Chandler: This variety of berries are large, robust and has a wonderful flavor. Each fruit weighs approximately 2g. Bush is very attractive and grows low to a height of about 150 cm.

Blueberry-Earliblue: As the name suggests berries that ripen early compared to other varieties. The berries are borne of the tree is large, juicy and has a mild and sweet taste. The grapes that grow in medium clusters and ripen in early July.
Blueberry Top Hat: This is a very nutritious variety, which also makes it a very ornamental plant. They produced berries are very rich and make an ideal ingredient in pies, muffins and jam.

   Choosing Blueberries:

One should be extremely careful when choosing berries. You have to choose those who have a deep and uniform color with a wheatish flourish. It is advisable to shake the container they are in that package only berries move freely in the package. If not move freely in the package, this only shows that berries are likely to be soft, moldy or damaged.

You should avoid berries that are soft or watery in consistency. They should also be free of water, since the presence of water, would likely result in their decay. They are primarily grown in the U.S. and is available from May to October while imported berries may be found at other times of year also.

Uses of Bilberry:

* Blueberries are best had in their raw form.
* Frozen berries can add to your breakfast shake to make it zingier and lip smacking.
* Dried berries can be added to the boring breakfast cereal to pep it up.
* Blueberry added in yogurt, then frozen to make a good low fat dessert. It can be supplemented with crystallized ginger for best results.
* Blueberry jam, muffins, pies are the favorite among people of all ages alike. They can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Health Benefits

Blueberries are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and has various health benefits associated with them. Some of them include the following:

Blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants play a crucial role in keeping our body healthy and young. They help fight free radicals in the body that damage cells in the body, as we get older. They can also lead to degradation of DNA. Blueberries provide protection against the same.

These berries are rich in an anti-cancer agent, several which helps to combat the deadly disease.

They contain chemicals that are believed to reduce the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells by a significant percentage.

Studies have confirmed that blueberries not only slow down the aging process, but also reverse it.

Various experiments conducted have also indicated that eating Blueberries improves short term memory loss and improves balance and coordination.

A substance found in blueberries called pterostilbene, has been shown to evolve into an Nutraceuticals for lowering cholesterol.

If consumed regularly, these berries have been shown to improve night vision and promote quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare.

They are also an advantage in reducing the impact of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia.

These wonder berries provide respite for both diarrhea and constipation.
They are rich sources of soluble and insoluble fibers and contains tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation.

A regular time-consuming blueberries helps to fight urinary tract infections.