Eating blueberries every day improves heart health

Eating a cup of blueberries a day reduces the risk factors for cardiovascular disease – according to a new study conducted by the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with colleagues from Harvard and the United Kingdom.

The new discoveries published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that eating 150 g of blueberries a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 15%.

The research team at the Department of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine at UEA, Norwich Medical School, said blueberries and other berries should be included in dietary strategies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially at risk groups.

The team sought to determine whether bilberry consumption had any effect on the metabolic syndrome, a disease that affects one-third of Westernized adults, and that includes at least three of the following risk factors: hypertension, elevated blood glucose, excess body fat around the waist, low levels of "good cholesterol" and high levels of triglycerides.

Professor Aedin Cbadidy, senior researcher at the UEA School of Medicine in Norwich, said: "The metabolic syndrome greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and statins and other drugs are often prescribed to limit this risk.

"It is widely recognized that lifestyle changes, including making simple changes to food choices, can also help.

"Previous studies have shown that people who consume blueberries regularly have a reduced risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.This may be due to the fact that blueberries are rich in natural compounds called anthocyanins. , which are the flavonoids responsible for color in fruits.

"We wanted to know if the consumption of blueberries could help people already identified as being at risk of developing such conditions."

The team studied the effects of daily blueberry consumption on 138 overweight and obese people aged 50 to 75 with metabolic syndrome. The six-month study was the longest trial of its kind.

They looked at the benefits of eating 150-gram (one-cup) servings compared to 75-gram servings (half a cup). Participants consumed blueberries in freeze-dried form and a placebo group received a purple-colored alternative consisting of artificial colors and flavors.

Dr. Peter Curtis, also co-chair of the UEA School of Medicine in Norwich, said: "We found that consuming one cup of blueberries a day resulted in lasting improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness – making enough difference to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 12 to 15%.

"The simple and accessible message is to consume one cup of blueberries a day to improve cardiovascular health.

"Surprisingly, we found no benefit from a lower daily intake of 75 grams (half cup) of blueberries in this risk group.This may require higher daily intakes to improve heart health. obese populations at risk with the general population ".