Wellness Wednesday Tip #1: Try Some Blueberries
/Happy Wellness Wednesday!
I want to start by saying thank you to everyone that joined in on the #WellfieWednesday launch last week. We hope to increase the trending of this hashtag and continue to educate on how to live a healthier lifestyle. So as a way to help out, we’ll be giving out a weekly tip that you can try to incorporate into your day. They are only meant to be suggestions, so please feel free to post your own personal accomplishments towards better health.
This week’s tip is to try a handful of blueberries! I’m starting with blueberries because they are by far my favorite fruit, both for taste and the handful of health benefits they provide.
Blueberries are packed with (1):
Vitamin C
Dietary fiber
Manganese
Polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins
These substances aid in tissue formation, strengthening of your immune system, bone development, and processing of cholesterol and other nutrients (1).
A regular consumption of blueberries has been shown to:
Promote cardiovascular health (2)
By reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness (3)
Improve lipid profile (2)
Lower chronic inflammation (2)
More information and resources on scientific research can be found through the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.
Though blueberries can be found all year round. Now is the time to grab some blueberries, as according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the best time for harvest is July and August (4), so stock up! I recently bought four pints for only five bucks! And in case you didn’t know, blueberries can easily be frozen and make a great addition to any smoothie, replacing the ice in this case.
Hope you give them a try. Let us know if you do, using #WellfieWednesday
Enjoy your day and thanks for reading!
- Dr. Patrick Berner, PT, DPT
- Dr. Eric Uveges, PT, DPT
References:
1. http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/healthy-living/blueberry-nutrition/
2. Yang B, Kortesniemi M. Clinical evidence on potential health benefits of berries. Current Opinion in Food Science. Apr 2015;2:36-42.
3. Johnson SA, Figueroa A, Navaei N, et al. Daily blueberry consumption improves blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women with pre-and stage 1-hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Acad Nutr Diet. Mar 2015;115(3):369-77.