A top nutrition expert has hailed a specific “superfood” that people should eat daily due to its numerous health benefits. Dr Federica Amati, a leading nutritional scientist and head nutritionist at Zoe, took to Instagram to sing the praises of blueberries.
A 150g punnet of blueberries can be purchased at Tesco for £1.80, making them an affordable and accessible addition to one’s diet. Dr Amati stated, “Blueberries are touted as some superfood that we should be consuming every day.
“!I have to say that evidence is really good, that blueberries are a great fruit to add to your daily diet. But it’s important to remember that we have to have a diversity of plants, so enjoy your blueberries, but make sure they’re not the only fruit that you’re eating.”
She emphasized the importance of variety in one’s diet, saying, “Are blueberries a ‘superfood’? The evidence for the health benefits of blueberries is really strong but remember that diversity is important, so enjoy your blueberries but make sure they’re not the only fruit you’re eating! “
Dr Amati then went on to list the benefits of blueberries, which include:A recent study has unveiled the remarkable health benefits of what’s being hailed as the ‘ultimate superfood’. The research, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, discovered that blueberries can enhance blood pressure, endothelial function – a cell layer lining all blood vessels and controlling exchanges between the bloodstream and surrounding tissue – and arterial stiffness.
The humble blueberry’s price has skyrocketed as supermarkets capitalise on the trend. However, Professor Tim Spector, a nutritional scientist, suggests there are cheaper alternatives, reports Gloucestershire Live.
He stated: “Blueberries are a source of polyphenols [plant chemicals in foods with antioxidant properties] that our gut flora love. But you can get the same compounds from any seasonal berries, which are often cheaper.”
He also recommended buying frozen ones: “I now try and get organic blueberries if I can you can often get ’em frozen. Interestingly they, and they’re not very expensive. If you buy the frozen organic barriers and you stick ’em in the freezer.”
According to Prof Spector, polyphenols are excellent for the stomach microbiome, reducing inflammation in the body – this can help prevent dementia, arthritis and diabetes. They often contain more vitamin C than the flesh inside, which aids in reducing blood pressure, heart disease and dementia.