Health Benefits of Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

The Nutritional Value and Uses of a Favorite Summer Fruit

© Stella Walsh

Blueberries and yogurt, Stella Walsh
Blueberries are a favorite summer fruit, but they need to be selected and stored properly to provide maximum health benefits when consumed fresh or frozen.

With people becoming more mindful of what they consume, there is a return to eating foods in their whole, natural state. When these foods are well chewed, digestive enzymes are released and the body can extract the maximum health benefits from them. Blueberries are a good example of this, being of most benefit when eaten fresh or frozen, not cooked or processed.

Health Benefits of Blueberries

According to the Reader’s Digest book Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal, blueberries have the following health benefits:

Selecting Blueberries

According to the World’s Healthiest Foods website, selected blueberries should be firm and of uniform color. The flesh should be covered in a whitish bloom. (This is the natural coating that comes off when they are handled.) If the container is shaken, the blueberries should move freely. The berries should be dry - moisture will cause them to rot quickly.

When buying frozen berries it is important to make sure they are not all clumped together in the bag, as this could indicate previous thawing and freezing.

As always, choosing an organic product will help the consumer avoid the risks of pesticides and preservatives.

Storing Blueberries

Ripe blueberries should be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. They will keep there for about a week. They should not be washed until eating because it will destroy the protective natural covering (bloom).

Ripe blueberries can also be frozen. This will slightly change their texture and flavor, but they can last up to one year this way. They should be washed gently before freezing.

Freezing blueberries results in minimal loss of nutrients. Cooking and processing, however, destroys the anthocyanins, which are extremely important to their health benefits.

Uses For Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Nothing beats the taste of fresh, in-season blueberries to create mouth-watering summer treats. Children especially love the blue and purple colors that blueberries and their juice add to treats and snacks. Even children with a gluten intolerance can enjoy healthy gluten-free blueberry snacks.

See Gluten-free Blueberry Muffins or Gluten-free Blueberry Crisp for treats that are baked, but taste delicious.


The copyright of the article Health Benefits of Fresh or Frozen Blueberries in Food Facts is owned by Stella Walsh. Permission to republish Health Benefits of Fresh or Frozen Blueberries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Blueberries and yogurt, Stella Walsh
       



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