As a child blueberries was one of the few foods that I'd convinced myself I didn't like. Maybe it was the fact they weren't as sweet as some of their other berry friends like strawberries. Maybe I once had a bad experience with a soggy blueberry muffin. Maybe I was a closest fruit racist and discriminated against them for their blueness. Whatever the reason I'm glad that in my adult years I have developed as love for this delicious and nutritious superfood (and it might help to balance out my love for coffee and red wine which I also discovered in adulthood!).So what are they? Blueberries are a small indigo coloured fruit that is a product of a perennial flowering plant within the Cyanococcus section of the Vaccinium genus (along with it's pretty super cousin, the cranberry).
Why do they deserve to wear a cape? Blueberries are set apart from other fruits because of their high content of anit-oxidants. Just 100g of blueberries contain the same amount of antioxidants as five servings of other fruit and vegetables (talk about efficient eating!). Age-defying Antioxidants help guard against a range of cancers, heart disease, asthma, arthiritis, cataracts, alzeimer's and age-related neurological diseases. In addition to this they combat the effect of free radicals and aid in collagen production (for youthful looking skin!); stimulate the growth of new brain cells and act to protect the heart in the same way as cholesterol lowering drugs.
What can I do with them? I've been getting my daily dose of blueberries by sprinkling them on a bowl of cereal in the morning; or popping a serving into my lunchbox. They taste great by themselves! I also like adding fresh blueberries to my protein pancakes or to blend them in a smoothie.
How much do they cost and where can I get them? The cost of blueberries varies greatly depending on if they are in season. I usually pick mine up from the harvest market or supermarket for between $3 and $6 for a punnet.
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