In recent years, a whole range of fruits have become associated with health and wellbeing. This has particularly been the case with berries – and there has been much commentary within the natural health communities on how cranberries can provide numerous health-benefits.
However, recent studies have revealed that more common-place fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are also rich in components that can reduce the risk of critical illnesses such as heart-disease and subsequent heart-attacks. Both types of berry contain high-levels of natural-compounds, called, flavonoids – which are also found in wine, eggplants and other fruits and vegetables. One of the great things about strawberries and blueberries is that they can easily be incorporated into your diet, and this simple dietary change can have a major impact in assisting the body’s fight against illnesses.
Recently, research was completed in the US and UK among 93,600 women aged 25-42, who were asked to complete questionnaires about their diets every four years for 18 years. During the study, 405 of the sample experienced heart-attacks, but women who regularly ate blueberries and strawberries were found to have a 32% less chance of suffering from a heart attack than those who did not. This was even the case with respondents who regularly ate fresh fruits and vegetables, but did not include strawberries and blueberries in their regular diets. The findings were independent of other risk factors such as age, high-blood pressure, and body-mass, frequency of exercise, smoking, caffeine, alcohol and substance-use.
These findings have been taken very seriously by the American Heart Association, who now formally endorse and encourage the regular consumption of berries in a healthy and balanced diet, as well as the regular use of other fruits rich in medicinal nutrients such as whole-grain products, grapes, and foods rich with omega 3 fats.
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