Blueberries Protect Heart Health
As metabolic syndrome continues to grow and consume human lives and healthcare resources, gut health continues to gain attention. Whether high blood pressure, excess body fat around the waist, high blood sugar levels, or abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels; metabolic syndrome has become epidemic globally. New research has helped shed new light on how blueberries protect heart health and aid in the fight against metabolic syndrome.
The scientists believe that the cardiovascular benefits they saw are primarily due to the presence of anthocyanins in blueberries.
In the lower intestine, the body metabolizes anthocyanins to produce a range of chemicals; some of these chemicals provide sustenance to the resident gut bacteria and are “likely play a key beneficial metabolic role,” say the study authors.
They offer some examples. For instance, some researchers have shown that syringic acid, which is a chemical that the metabolism of anthocyanin produces, benefits vascular endothelial cells in the laboratory.
Similarly, scientists have found that vanillic acid, another breakdown product, reduces hypertension in rats.
Dr. Curtis concludes, “The simple and attainable message is to consume 1 cup of blueberries daily to improve cardiovascular health.”
At this point, it is worth mentioning that other foods contain anthocyanin, including blackcurrants, black and red raspberries, blackberries, red cabbage, plums, red radish, black carrot, and purple potato.
Source: Can blueberries protect heart health?
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