More studies are needed before any claims can be made. Neurobiol Aging. View abstract. It’s a natural antidepressant. Nutr Neurosci. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;10(6). Depression. Hyperoxia-induced changes in antioxidant capacity and the effect of dietary antioxidants. Different studies have obtained similar results especially for postmenopausal women. A cup of blueberries contains 29 micrograms of vitamin K, making them a medium vitamin K food. Serafini M, Testa MF, Villano D, et al. The effect of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption on postprandial serum antioxidant status in human subjects. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer (2, 3). In one study, 168 people drank 34 ounces (1 liter) of a mixed blueberry and apple juice daily. Biochim Biophys Acta 2000;1519:117-22. Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Korczyn AD. In a study in 32 obese people with insulin resistance, two blueberry smoothies daily caused major improvements in insulin sensitivity (30). Pedersen CB, Kyle J, Jenkinson AM, et al. pii: E650. Blueberry cleans the urinary tract. However, for people taking blood thinner prescription, eating blueberries isn’t a smart choice. pii: E660. 2019;10(12):7707-7713. Blueberries will also increase vision sharpness and allow a person to have eye health. This article lists 13 foods that have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Lyons MM, Yu C, Toma RB, et al. A., O'Leary, J. M., and Milbury, P. E. Identification of anthocyanins in the liver, eye, and brain of blueberry-fed pigs. Am J Clin Nutr. These have been some studies done that have shown that blueberries will help prevent cancer. All Rights Reserved. In a small study of 10 female athletes, blueberries were able to accelerate muscle recovery after strenuous leg exercises. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Plasma antioxidant capacity changes following a meal as a measure of the ability of a food to alter in vivo antioxidant status. Blueberries have Salicylate, an active ingredient in aspirin that is found naturally in many plants, in large amounts. View abstract. Matchett, M. D., MacKinnon, S. L., Sweeney, M. I., Gottschall-Pass, K. T., and Hurta, R. A. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity in DU145 human prostate cancer cells by flavonoids from lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium): possible roles for protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein-kinase-mediated events. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Casadesus, G., Shukitt-Hale, B., Stellwagen, H. M., Zhu, X., Lee, H. G., Smith, M. A., and Joseph, J. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. In vitro anticancer activity of fruit extracts from Vaccinium species. A. Blueberry supplemented diet: effects on object recognition memory and nuclear factor-kappa B levels in aged rats. Then take some milk to neutralize the acid and maintain your teeth strong. They appear to benefit aging neurons, leading to improvements in cell signaling. Some research shows that taking blueberry daily for 3-6 months might help improve some thinking and memory tests in adults over 60 years of age. Probable blueberry-induced haemolysis in a G6PD deficient child: A case report. View abstract. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter. 2013 Apr;75(4):1041-52. Br.J.Nutr. Absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins in elderly women after consumption of elderberry or blueberry. Bomser J, Madhavi DL, Singletary K, Smith MA. A few side effects include: 1. Rodriguez-Mateos A, Rendeiro C, Bergillos-Meca T, Tabatabaee S, George TW, Heiss C, Spencer JP. Blueberries are sweet, nutritious and wildly popular. One cup (148 grams) holds 15 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to a small apple or large orange (1). View abstract. McDougall, G. J., Shpiro, F., Dobson, P., Smith, P., Blake, A., and Stewart, D. Different polyphenolic components of soft fruits inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. View abstract. Shoji K, Yamasaki M, Kunitake H. Effects of dietary blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) leaves on mildly postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. Eur J Nutr 2016;55(6):2151-62. 2004;7(5-6):309-316. Also, eating blueberries doesn't seem to improve strength or walking speed in elderly people. Front Pharmacol 2017;8:853. Hanley MJ, Masse G, Harmatz JS, Cancalon PF, Dolnikowski GG, Court MH, Greenblatt DJ. Howell AB, Vorsa N, Foo LY, et al. 2018;21(4):297-305. After 12 weeks, they experienced improvements in several markers of brain function (25). Ofek I, Goldhar J, Zafriri D, et al. Xu N, Meng H, Liu T, Feng Y, Qi Y, Zhang D, Wang H. Blueberry phenolics reduce gastrointestinal infection in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis by improving depressant-induced autoimmune disorder via miR-155-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 2014 Oct;58(10):1952-61. Early research shows that taking a single dose of blueberry may improve some types of learning in children ages 7-10 years. If there is a benefit, it is probably small. High levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia). 2008;11(4):172-182. Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2010;29:467-74. Research suggests that anthocyanins in blueberries have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The 13 Most Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Can Eat, 29 Healthy Snacks That Can Help You Lose Weight, Blackberries: Health Benefits and Nutrition Information, 11 Reasons Why Berries Are Among the Healthiest Foods on Earth, 5 Impressive Health Benefits of Acai Berries. 2008;95(4):383-393. (check all that apply). Kalt, W., Blumberg, J. Mol.Nutr Food Res 2007;51(6):652-664. Vuong, T., Martineau, L. C., Ramassamy, C., Matar, C., and Haddad, P. S. Fermented Canadian lowbush blueberry juice stimulates glucose uptake and AMP-activated protein kinase in insulin-sensitive cultured muscle cells and adipocytes. A. Blueberry polyphenols attenuate kainic acid-induced decrements in cognition and alter inflammatory gene expression in rat hippocampus. Abidov, M., Ramazanov, A., Jimenez Del, Rio M., and Chkhikvishvili, I. This makes blueberries very good for your heart (15). Aging. Wang SY, Jiao H. Scavenging capacity of berry crops on superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen. The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries belong to a family of polyphenols antioxidants called flavonoids. This was through consumption of two ounces (50 grams) of blueberries daily. DNA damage is part of the reason we grow older. View abstract. A 1-cup (148-gram) serving of blueberries contains (1): They are also about 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories, with 15 grams of carbohydrates. How Long Does Coronavirus Live On Surfaces? Front Plant Sci. Improves Vision. Antioxidants (Basel). It is said to occur tens of thousands of times per day in every cell in your body (10). Other studies have observed similar effects — especially for postmenopausal women (19, 20). Side Effects of Blackberry. Mol Nutr Food Res 2017;61(12). View abstract. It doesn’t matter if you eat them fresh, frozen, or juiced, their deep blue color can discolor your tooth enamel or white fillings. Effects of blueberry and cranberry juice consumption on the plasma antioxidant capacity of healthy female volunteers. Blueberries are also good for the eyes. Blueberry leaves might decrease blood sugar. Peyronie disease (build-up of scar tissue in the penis). Vitamin K is useful to the body since it helps with blood clotting and maintains bone density. 2002;5(6):427-431. Blueberries are incredibly healthy and nutritious. View abstract. View abstract. Oxidative damage is not limited to your cells and DNA. Often labeled a superfood, they are low in calories and incredibly good for you. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;85(9):956-965. Early research shows that taking a single dose of blueberry leaf extract might help to reduce levels of fats in the blood after a meal in people with this condition. There’s just something about spa water that makes it taste much cleaner, fresher and healthier than any other type of flavored water. It is thought that consuming a consistent amount (such as 1 cup, three times weekly) can help physicians to determine an appropriate amount of medication.