Blueberries and Health Benefits to the Eyes

This phytonutrient is found in foods that are dark red, blue or purple. The darker the pigment, the greater the benefit. Also, more pigment means more benefits. Foods providing the best sources of anthocyanins are blueberries, cranberries,black raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, red currants, cherries, and purple grapes.

For my birthday, my husband and I went to a local organic farmers market. Knowing that wild blueberries provide even higher levels of anthocyanins,(because the berries are smaller and have more pigment) he bought me a wild blueberry plant. At the same market, I found out about a black raspberry plant. The same idea - the color of the berry is a very dark purple-black and loaded with antioxidant protection. We bought and planted the black raspberry bush and just this week the berries have ripened. They taste wonderful and I like them better than the red raspberries.

Besides providing antioxidant protection these berries are anti-inflammatory. They contain another beneficial substance called flavonoids. Flavonoids are water soluble plant pigments. They support our health by strengthening capillaries and other connective tissue and are anti-inflammatory.

According to Dr. Michael Samuels, ophthalmologist and author of Macular Degeneration: A Complete Guide for Patients and Their Families , "Modern research into age related macular degeneration has found that inflammation plays a clear role in the development of the dry form of this disease." Now, if you have the wet form, you may think that this information does not apply to you. But, in fact, chronic inflammation plays a role in many other diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimers.

I hope you are convinced to start including dark pigmented berries in your regular diet. During the winter months I buy the frozen berries and then add them into a smoothie so we get the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits year round.

To learn more about foods high in flavonoids and research on this important nutrient click here:

Flavonoid Antioxidants

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Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision