29/08/2022
Berry Good for You!
More than 20 randomized, controlled trials have put berries to the test in more than 1,000 people, and berries have been found to help control bad cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugars, body weight, diabetes, and inflammation. Now, a lot of plant foods can provide similar benefits. All whole plant foods have fiber, and fiber can help lower cholesterol. So, is there something special about berries?
Even without the fiber, blueberry tea has been shown to lower cholesterol. Researchers tested blueberry tea in kids genetically predisposed to high cholesterol. The antioxidant capacity of their bloodstream increased over the six months they were in the study. It took three months for the tea to start having a significant effect on LDL cholesterol levels. After six months, there was no real change in the control group, but the tea group got a 30 percent drop in bad LDL cholesterol—that result is akin to what you’d get by putting these kids on a statin drug! Six months after they stopped drinking the tea, though, their cholesterol was back to where it started.
Berries are the most healthful fruits, due in part to their pigments, and are second only to herbs and spices as the most antioxidant-packed food category. As a group, they average nearly 10 times more antioxidants than other fruits and vegetables, and have in excess of 50 times the antioxidants than animal-based foods.
To see study references and learn more, visit http://NutritionFacts.org:
"Benefits of Blueberries for Heart Disease" at http://bit.ly/2Wtdrd7
Berries Topic Page at https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/berries/
