Go Wild for Blueberries

I had the pleasure and great opportunity to land a modeling role for an interesting documentary on the Health Benefits of Canadian Wild Blueberries.

I didn’t realize just how many health benefits wild blueberries have! I was so excited and couldn’t wait to share these benefits with all of you!

The wild blueberry is indeed nature’s antioxidant SUPERFRUIT! They help to protect us against diseases and age-related conditions such as Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and other degenerative diseases. They are also good for Intestinal Health, Metabolic Syndrome, Urinary Track Health, and Vision Health.

They have compounds called anthocyanins, one of the most powerful forms of antioxidants. Antioxidants help our bodies protect against age-related health risks. Every day, our cells fight against free radicals, which are unstable molecules in our body that have been broken off their stable bond. Our bodies can handle most free-radicals, but if antioxidants are not available and the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. This cell damage can lead to cancer, heart disease, and other age-related conditions.

So why “wild” you may ask? Well, wild blueberries have thrived under harsh conditions for thousands of years. The harsher the environment, the more potent the protection is. Wild blueberries have a higher concentration in ANTHOCYANIN than ordinary cultivated blueberries, which in turns gives you the extra antioxidant protection needed to fight off the free-radicals causing damage.

Wild Blueberries are low in fat, high in fibre, and have only 45 calories per 100 grams serving. There is no added sugar, sodium, or starches. They are also a great source of manganese which is great for bone development and other body functions.

So, with all this amazing information, are you surprised you haven’t been eating more of them? I will definitely be adding more wild blueberries to my diet!

Here are a few quick serving ideas on how to add these powerful superfruits to your current diet:
– Add frozen wild blueberries to your favorite shake
– Add them to your favorite hot cereal
– Add thawed ones to some Greek yogurt to make a delicious parfait (see below)

Here is a refreshing low-calorie recipe rich in antioxidants, perfect for these summer months!

Wild Blueberry Parfait
2 tbsp frozen wild blueberries, thawed
½ cup non-fat Greek-style yogurt
2 tbsp oat granola
1 tbsp. hemp seed

Spoon 1 tbsp of blueberries into parfait glass. Spoon ¼ cup non-fat Greek-style yogurt over berries, then top with 1 tbsp oat granola, and ½ tbsp of hemp seed. Repeat once more and serve!

Nutrition Facts: 185 calories, 23g Protein, 23g Carbs, 6g Fat

Nichelle Laus
www.nichellelaus.com

References
– http://www.wildblueberries.com
– http://www.whfoods.com