Study shows that eating blueberries could be good for your heart | Life

LONDON, June 1 – According to a new British study conducted at the University of East Anglia, consuming 150 grams of blueberries a day could reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

The research, which received funding from the US Highbush Blueberry Council and was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, sought to determine whether blueberry consumption had an effect on the metabolic syndrome, a set of metabolic problems that increase the risk of heart disease, most often manifested by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excessive body fat around the body. size, good cholesterol "and high levels of triglycerides.

According to a statement by researchers, "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 the red and blue color of fruits. "

Over the course of six months, researchers studied the effects of daily blueberry consumption in 138 overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome, aged 50 to 75 years.

The experiment compared the benefits of eating servings of 150 grams of blueberries a day to 75 gram servings. Participants ate freeze-dried blueberries, while a placebo group received a purple-colored alternative based on food coloring and artificial flavors.

A 15% reduction in risk

"We found that consuming one cup of blueberries a day resulted in lasting improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness – a difference sufficient to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 12 to 15 percent," he said. Dr. Peter, co-author of the Curtis study.

He added: "Surprisingly, we found no benefit in reducing our daily consumption of blueberries by 75 grams (half cup) in this risk group. It is possible that higher daily intakes are needed to improve heart health in at-risk obese populations, compared to the general population. – AFP