PORTLAND, Maine (March 9, 2005) — According to Health Magazine, Wild Blueberries are a “Power Food” ranking as the top fruit on the March “Hot List” of foods with high antioxidant capacity.

Health’s “Hot List” is comprised of foods that ranked highest in a recent study conducted by USDA’s Dr. Ronald Prior, analyzing antioxidant capacity of commonly available fruits and vegetables. According to the research, Wild Blueberries are highest in antioxidant capacity per serving, compared with more than 20 other fruits. (Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52:4026-4037, 2004.) The study showed that a one-cup serving of Wild Blueberries had higher antioxidant capacity than a serving of other popular fruits such as cranberries, strawberries, prunes, raspberries, and even cultivated blueberries. The recent USDA work represents the most comprehensive study of antioxidant capacity using the most advanced technology in this area, known as the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) measure.

Antioxidants are important in terms of their ability to protect against oxidative cell damage that can lead to conditions like Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease – conditions also linked with chronic inflammation. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of blue-purple foods like Wild Blueberries may have the potential to help prevent these diseases.

The Power of Blue™
“A strong indicator of antioxidant activity is color,” said Susan Davis, MS, RD, Nutrition Advisor to the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. According to Davis, anthocyanin, the deep-blue purple pigment in foods like Wild Blueberries, is a potent phytonutrient that acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. “With the highest antioxidant capacity of all the fruits tested by Dr. Prior, Wild Blueberries stand out as an antioxidant powerhouse. A half-cup a day is all you need to satisfy a daily fruit serving and get the important color blue into your diet. Use Frozen Wild Blueberries in smoothies, toss them onto cereal, yogurt or even salads. They’re easy, convenient, great tasting and above all, healthy!”

Frozen Wild Blueberries
“Frozen fruit and vegetables will become very important as Americans address the challenge of meeting the new USDA Dietary Guidelines telling all of us to eat more fruits and vegetables every day,” said John Sauvé, Managing Director-Food and Nutrition, Swardlick Marketing Group, on behalf of WBANA. “Frozen Wild Blueberries can easily be incorporated into meals and snacks, making them a great choice for anyone looking to improve their diet. Additionally, the FDA has concluded that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh and may even retain their nutritional value longer, so consumers shouldn’t be concerned with lost nutritional value.”

“In addition to their great taste and potential health benefits, Frozen Wild Blueberries offer tremendous value in terms of their price stability,” he continued. “While imported, fresh, cultivated blueberries are higher priced during the off-season, Frozen Wild Blueberries are consistently affordable and are now readily available in supermarket freezer cases nationwide.”

WBANA
WBANA is a trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine, dedicated to bringing the Wild Blueberry health story and unique Wild Advantages to consumers worldwide.

SOURCE: Wild Blueberry Association of North America

CONTACTS: John Sauvé, Wild Blueberry Association of North America, (207) 967-5024 or Susan Till, SWARDLICK MARKETING GROUP, (207) 775-4100.

WEB SITE: www.wildblueberries.com