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The research team from King’s College London studied 40 adults for about a month. Half of them were given a juice containing about 200 grams of blueberry juice , while the other half were given a different beverage containing the same level of fiber, vitamins, and minerals as the first. During the experiment, the participants had their blood and urine samples periodically drawn and their blood pressure and dilation of the main blood vessels, considered a marker of cardiovascular risk, were frequently monitored.
The effects of blueberries on the body were visible just two weeks into the study. More importantly, at the end of the month, blood pressure had decreased to the same extent as with the administration of specific medications. The anthocyanins also led to improvements in the function of endothelial cells, which act as a barrier between the blood and the rest of the body, control clotting, and help regulate blood pressure. Half of the participants who consumed the second beverage did not experience the same benefits.
» If the effects observed in just one month could be prolonged throughout a person’s entire life , » commented Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, nutritionist and first author of the study, » then it could be concluded that eating blueberries reduces the risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems by 20% .
Blueberries are a spring or summer fruit, but you could always squeeze them and freeze the juice , so you always have your dose of health even during the winter months.
Source | « Circulating anthocyanin metabolites mediate vascular benefits of blueberries: insights from randomized controlled trials, metabolomics, and nutrigenomics » on February 16, 2019
