Steven Pratt, M.D., is a renowned authority on the role of nutrition and lifestyle in disease prevention. He is a senior staff ophthalmologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California. Kathy Matthews has co-authored several health and medical bestsellers, including Medical Makeover and Natural Prescriptions.

Blueberries are a “flagship” food in the fruit category. The other 13 SuperFoods include:

In fact, Blueberries, along with spinach and salmon, are one of three SuperFoods that were identified by the authors as “major SuperFoods” – foods even more densely packed with healthful benefits.

	In the words of Dr. Pratt: “If you learn nothing else from SuperFoods Rx, remember to eat blueberries and spinach most days and salmon two to four times a week. These three foods alone will change your life and health.”

The authors attribute the health and anti-aging benefits of blueberries to their high antioxidant content, noting that “just one serving of blueberries provides as many antioxidants as five servings of carrots, apples, broccoli or squash.” In fact, USDA studies rank blueberries number one in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other fruits and vegetables.

Of particular interest to the authors is the flavonoid anthocyanin, which is concentrated in the skin and gives blueberries their intense blue-purple color. “Blueberries, particularly wild blueberries, have at least five different anthocyanins,” state the authors, who later offer another advantage to eating wild blueberries:

Health Benefits of Blueberries – the “Brain Berries”

The authors make a strong case for the impressive health benefits of blueberries, describing in detail recent studies that show the potential for blueberries to prevent and even reverse some of the degenerative diseases associated with an aging brain. The authors focused on:

• Research led by Dr. James Joseph at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University that demonstrates the potential for blueberries to improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging. In his studies, older rats improved their navigational skills, balance, coordination and speed after two months on a blueberry supplemented diet. Although other fruits and vegetables were studied, only blueberries were effective in reversing short-term memory loss. Promising research is ongoing to see if the results can be duplicated in humans.
• Studies that show blueberries, like cranberries, help maintain urinary tract health. Components in blueberries reduce the ability of E. coli, a bacterium responsible for urinary tract infections, to adhere to the lining of the bladder.
• Research that shows ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in blueberries and other berries, may block the metabolic pathways that can promote cancer. Various studies have demonstrated that people who consume fruits with the most ellagic acid are three times less likely to develop cancer than those who consume little or no dietary ellagic acid. Blueberries, as well as raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries, are higher in ellagic acid than other fruits.

More Options with Frozen Blueberries

The authors also appreciate the benefits of frozen berries, stating: “Frozen blueberries greatly expand the fruit’s possibilities.” Some of Dr. Pratt’s favorite ways to eat blueberries include:

• Sprinkle berries and wheat germ on yogurt
• Mix frozen berries into hot oatmeal
• Whip into a smoothie with yogurt, banana, ice and soy or nonfat milk
• Drop some onto whole wheat buttermilk pancakes just before turning them.

All in all, the authors of SuperFoods Rx give ample evidence of why Wild Blueberries should have a starring role in the daily diets of all health-conscious consumers.