What's so great about Blueberries?

Increasingly sought-after and even popular among celebrities who swear by its detox properties, the blueberry has been getting a lot of good press lately. But is this often expensive fruit over-hyped or is it really worth its newfound superfood status? Glenisk's resident nutritionist Siobhan Julian is in no doubt as to the value of blueberries in our diet. "Blueberries are not only great tasting, they are one of the healthiest foods you can eat," she says. "This is because blueberries are one of the richest natural sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are responsible for keeping us healthy and young. They help fight cell damaging “free radicals”. Free radicals are unstable substances that our bodies produce as we get older. Free radicals damage human cells and our DNA and hence play a role in the ageing process and in cancer development. Antioxidants mop up these unhealthy free radicals and help prevent and treat ill health.

"Blueberries are one of the richest natural sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are responsible for keeping us healthy and young."

The antioxidants in Blueberries are contained in “Anthcyanins” (a Greek word meaning “plant” and “blue”). Anthcyanins gives this special fruit its distinctive blue colour. In general, Irish people are not getting enough fruit and vegetables and hence are not getting enough antioxidants. Irish people are also not getting enough dairy  in their diet. Many of us also have imbalanced gut micro flora and this can lead to ill health. To boost your intake of antioxidants and to help rebalance, include Glenisk Organic Low Fat Probiotic Yogurt with Blueberries in your day as part of a balanced diet. For optimum health, the guidelines for dairy are three portions a day (milk, yogurt and cheese) and for fruit and vegetables, five portions a day. Be sure you get your full daily intake. And remember, for maximum benefit, always choose organic when you can"