For this important reason you should eat blueberries every day
Eat 200 grams of blueberries every day for a month can improve the function of blood vessels and decrease systolic blood pressure in healthy people, as a new study published in the 'Journal of Gerontology Series A' has discovered.
Scientists from the King's College London (UK) 40 healthy volunteers were studied for a month, randomly given a drink each containing 200 grams of blueberries or a combination control drink.
The team tracked the chemicals in the blood and urine of the volunteers, as well as their blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery: a measure of how the artery widens when the artery increases. blood flow, which is considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular risk disease.
In an additional study, the researchers compared the effects of a blueberry drink with those of purified anthocyanins, a type of phytochemical responsible for the blue, red, pink and purple color of some fruits and vegetables, such as berries and red grapes. They also compared this to the control drinks that contain similar levels of fiber, minerals or vitamins found in cranberries.
They discovered that effects on blood vessel function were observed two hours after consumption of the blueberry drinks and they were kept for a month, even after an overnight fast. Throughout the month, blood pressure was reduced by 5 mmHg. This is similar to what is commonly seen in studies that use medications to lower blood pressure.
Beverages containing purified anthocyanins led to improvements in endothelial function. Endothelial cells act as a barrier between the blood or lymph and the surrounding body tissue, in addition to playing key roles in blood clotting and blood pressure regulation. Neither the control drink, the control with fiber or the control with minerals and vitamins had a significant effect in foot-and-mouth disease at two and six hours after consumption.
The principal investigator, Dr. Ana Rodríguez-Mateos, of the Department of Nutrition Sciences of the King's College London, explained that, “Although it is best to eat the whole blueberry to get the full benefit, our study finds that most of the effects can be explained by anthocyanins. If the changes we see in blood vessel function after eating blueberries every day could be sustained throughout a person's life, it could reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease by up to 20%."
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