Better Blueberries

Blueberries are a healthy addition to any diet. Among other benefits, they contain anthocyanins - the pigments that make them blue - which act as potent antioxidants. And now researchers have identified two species of wild blueberries with two to four times the antioxidant activity of those on the market. These wild blueberries grow in the high-elevation Andes' forests, which happen to be one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Researchers from Lehman College in New York and the New York Botanical Garden discovered that these Andes' species pack a powerful antioxidant punch after examining five species of neo-tropical blueberries. The ones that scored highest were Cavendishia grandifolia and Anthopterus wardii. These berries aren't commercially available at this time, but the researchers suggested that once their nutritional profile is better elucidated, they may be brought to market. The study was published in the April 13, 2011 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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• Better Blueberries (whatontoday.com)

Posted in: Andes,Antioxidant,Blueberry,Health,New York Botanical Garden,Weil