The latest update on women’s health makes for good eating: three weekly servings of blueberries or strawberries can help cut the risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third. This finding follows a review of health information obtained from 93,600 women ages 25 to 43 enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II. The participants completed questionnaires about their diet every four years for 18 years. In analyzing the data, the researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the UK’s University of East Anglia, noted that women who reported eating the most berries had a heart attack risk that was 32 percent lower than those who ate blueberries or strawberries only once a month or less, even if their diets were otherwise rich in fruits and vegetables. The berries may have made the difference because of the anthocyanins they contain - the investigators said that these naturally occurring compounds may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits. The berries’ positive effects were apparently independent of other heart attack risk factors, such as age, high blood pressure, family history of heart attack, body mass, exercise, smoking, caffeine or alcohol intake. The study was published in the January 15, 2013 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
My take? This is very good – but not surprising – news about the health benefits of blueberries and strawberries. They are both anti-inflammatory, good sources of fiber, rich in flavonoids and carotenoids, and offer immune-boosting antioxidant activity. I enjoy berries and recommend eating them frequently. Because commercial strains of berries may be heavily sprayed with pesticides, however, I recommend buying only organic varieties.
Sources:
Eric B. Rimm, Aedín Cassidy et al. “High Anthocyanin Intake Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Young and Middle-Aged Women,” Circulation. 2013; 127:188-196, doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.122408
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