Blueberries are an amazing fruit. When you’re always on the go like I am, trying to have quick breakfasts while staying conscientious about my daily fruit and veggie intake, blueberries are a lifesaver. They’re delicious but they’re also portable. I can drop them into cereal or oatmeal, put some in a baggie for a snack, or eat them with my yogurt. They’re low maintenance “SUPERFOOD.”

Being delicious doesn’t stop them from having major health benefits, either. Here are 10 reasons other than being delicious that blueberries should be consumed daily in your house.

 

1. High Vitamins, Low Calories

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since blueberries are 85% water, they don’t contain a lot of calories. This means that being full of nutrients comes at almost no cost to you. Blueberries deliver ample amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and manganese without needing to be offset by anything.

This makes them boost your immune system, as well as increase your energy.

 

2. Antioxidants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberries are famous for their high concentration of antioxidants, which protect our bodies from free radicals. These are the unstable molecules that damage our cells and lead to cancer if they’re not controlled. Out of any commonly available fruit or vegetable, blueberries contain the most antioxidants by far.

 

3. Reducing DNA Damage

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can’t see it, but our DNA has to be protected. It runs the major processes of every cell in our body. When it gets damaged, we can age faster or even develop cancer. The free radicals that cause this damage can be reduced by eating blueberries.

 

4. Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart attacks and strokes are on everyone’s mind at some point. High blood pressure and blood sugar are the main factors in our control that can help us fight off those traumatic events and live longer. The fact that blueberries have moderate regulatory effects for both should be reason enough to keep them stocked in your fridge.

 

5. Heart Disease Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since blueberries can lower blood pressure, they can also reduce LDL (the “bad” cholesterol), which lowers your risk for heart disease. Regularly consuming blueberries has been studied to lower your risk of heart attacks by about a 32%.

 

6. Improved Brain Function

 

 

 

 

 

 

The high antioxidant content of blueberries can help you improve your brain function, particularly in cases of age-related decline. Memory is a terrible thing to lose, but blueberries have shown the ability to improve markers for healthy recall and overall brain function.

 

7. UTI Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urinary tract infections can happen to anyone but they’re particularly common for women. Blueberries can prevent E. Coli from binding to your bladder and causing an infection.

Anyone who goes through regular UTIs should make blueberries a priority in their prevention regimen.

 

8. Muscle Recovery

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you work out, you experience a natural reaction of soreness and fatigue. This is the result of inflammation and oxidative stress in your muscles. Essentially, to build muscle, you have to break it too.

Blueberries reduce the damage on the molecular level so that your muscles feel less sore and regenerate more quickly.

 

9. Eye Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

Age-related eye problems can be a huge burden for people that already have so many. Blueberries can help by using antioxidants to prevent degeneration, myopia, cataracts, and even infections. They also contain a compound called anthocyanin, which prevents retinal damage related to age.

 

10. Healthy Digestion

 

 

 

 

 

 

I already mentioned that blueberries are packed with vitamins while being low in calories, but they’re also an ideal low-calorie source of fiber. Eating blueberries helps you feel full, much more so than processed foods that contain less dietary fiber.

This helps you absorb nutrients and maintain healthy bowel habits, which is particularly useful for diabetes sufferers but beneficial to practically anyone.

 

The Takeaway

Blueberries are one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways I know to get essential vitamins and nutrients for myself and the rest of my family. They’re a simple snack or topping but they come with complex benefits, including antioxidants and improved heart, brain, and stomach function.

I’m always looking for ways to keep up a healthy diet on a busy schedule. Since blueberries are great by themselves and easy to take anywhere, they top my list of go-to snacks and an “ALRIGHT SUPERFOOD.” I always have some in the crisper and you should too.