Blueberries are among the most well-known and best-loved superfoods on the planet. Aside from being a delicious and versatile food ingredient, blueberries also provide plenty of essential nutrients and disease-fighting phytonutrients. For instance, research suggests that blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all plant-based foods. Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, a harmful event that has been linked to various age-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
The antioxidants in blueberries are classified as flavonoids. Members of this class possess a wide range of biological activities and are collectively known as polyphenols. Research suggests that polyphenols are the most abundant and widely distributed group of bioactive molecules present in plants. They are also responsible for many of the medicinal properties exhibited by plants. Read more…