by Ray Fauteux

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

When one considers all the fruits and vegetables on the world market today, it's quite surprising that the humble blueberry is loaded with more nutritional value than most foods the average consumer has access to on those weekly trips to the supermarket.

There have been many studies done for years now on the benefits of consuming different varieties of fruits. Most of the studies have centered on fruits as sources of antioxidants that are very effective in protecting the body from cell damage that is often caused by oxidative cells.

Antioxidants are especially important weapons against the onset of cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's.

The diminutive blueberry is teeming with antioxidants and heads the list of all fruits and vegetables in it's ability to provide the body with the healing power of antioxidants. So highly thought of is the blueberry that it is called a "power food" among fresh produce that is available to the average consumer.

Surprisingly, the deep blue color of the berry has a lot to do with it's high ranking in the antioxidant category. Color often indicates that there is much antioxidant activity present in that particular food item. Like the strawberry for instance. The pigment in fruit, especially the deep blue-purple of the blueberry, is actually a potent phytonutrient that is the catalyst that enables it to act as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Although other colorful fruits like cranberries, raspberries, plums, and the strawberry have excellent antioxidant properties, none come close to matching the humble blueberry.

In an edition of the "Vegetarian Times" writer Mark Harris cited blueberries, tea, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, soy and oats the key seven super-foods that can actually extend out lives.

Best of all blueberries are so versatile when it comes to their use in the kitchen. How can you go wrong when a food choice has such amazing medicinal qualities and tastes great as well? It's much more gratifying than buying a bottle of supplements that supposedly has antioxidant qualities.

It seems far more exciting to have a blueberry muffin, blueberry pancakes, blueberry pie, or just blueberries and cream. Then of course there are blueberry milkshakes, blueberries in fruit salad and blueberries in your healthy cereal in the morning.

The versatile and powerful blueberry should be one of the first choices a consumer makes when looking for a food that is both healthy and appetizing.

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