This food is
very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of
Dietary Fiber, and a very good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese. One
of the top fruits that you should be including in your diet regularly is
blueberry. Blueberries are great for sprinkling into yogurt or baking up in
your favorite dessert, or can just be eaten raw for a sweet treat that will
satisfy your cravings. Whether your goal is weight loss or health maintenance,
you really can’t go wrong with having blueberries as a part of your meal plan. Always
try and select blueberries that look nice and firm with no indents or wrinkled
areas on the skin. The deeper blue color is what you should look for to
indicate ripeness and a nice large, plump size will indicate the juiciest
fruits. When you get home be sure to store them in the fridge as soon as
possible to maintain their freshness. Usually blueberries will last up to a
week depending on when they were packaged. Blueberries work well blended into
shakes, tossed into your healthy pancake recipe, added to a bowl of cereal or
oatmeal, or placed into some low-fat yogurt. With so many ways to add these to
your day, there’s really no reason not to include them regularly.
Sweet, juicy blueberries
are rich in natural pigment anti-oxidant, proanthocyanidins. The small round
blue-purple berries have long been attributed to the longevity and wellness of
indigenous natives around arctic regions of Northern hemisphere. Fresh
blueberries are readily available in the markets all around the year due to
imports from across the continents. However fresh wild berries are at their
best from June till August when the harvest season begins in Michigan
and Maine in USA
and from Quebec province in Canada.
Blueberries are
sweet and juicy, leaves deep blue pigment stain over teeth and tongue. Trim away
any stems and leaves if you have purchased berries directly from the local
farmer.
They are better
eaten fresh after washing in cold water. If taken out from the cold storage,
place them in a bowl of water to bring to normal room temperature to enrich their
taste and palatability. Gently pat dry using a moisture absorbent cloth/ paper
and enjoy!
·
Traditionally,
blueberries have been part of food culture of Native Americans.
·
While fresh
berries eaten fresh, dried ones added to soup, stews and to sweeten venison
meat.
·
They are one
of the most preferred berries in the preparation of muffins, pies and
cheesecakes.
·
These berries
are also favorite addition to fruit salads, fresh fruit tarts, ice-creams etc.
·
They are also
used to make juice, jellies and jams.
Blueberries may rarely cause serious allergic
reactions in some sensitized individuals. Most often these kinds of reactions
occur because of possible cross reactions to other fruits (strawberry), pollen
or weed allergies. Some of the most common symptoms of blueberry allergy
may include swelling and redness of mouth, lips and tongue, eczema, hives, skin
rash, headache, runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing and gastrointestinal
disturbances. Individuals who suspect allergy to these fruits may want to avoid
eating them.
