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Blueberries: a Powerful Antioxidant FruitYou have probably heard that blueberries are an antioxidant fruit with many benefits for the body. What are antioxidants? I have done research and asked several people, “what exactly are antioxidants?” Most of the answers I have gotten would require a degree in biology to explain (and, unfortunately, that was the class in college that I struggled in the most). So, I have decided to try and explain it in a way that I can easily understand without simplifying it too much. Antioxidants are a group of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that act as tiny heroes in our body fighting off the bad guys also known as
free radicals.
Our bodies are made up of atoms that contain protons, neutrons, and electrons. 
The free radicals are formed when our cells are exposed to certain substances (pollution, smoke, drugs, alcohol and pesticides to name a few).They are also formed when our body performs various metabolic processes (for instance, using stored fat to create energy), and when we eat a poor diet. When the free radicals are formed, they steal electrons through a process called oxidation. The molecules attach themselves to the cells in our body and weaken them, leading to a variety of degenerative or immune-deficient disorders. Antioxidants have the power to give up electrons and still remain stable. This stops the ruthless free radical chain reaction. That is why antioxidants are called electron donors. They are not only able to give an electron to a free radical and satisfy its balance (so it will stop robbing us of ours), but it also gives electrons back to a tissue that has already been robbed. This allows the tissue to re-balance its electrical charge (the charge that occurs when the atoms are whole). This helps the damaged cells to repair or heal the damage caused by the free radical. So, antioxidants are extremely helpful in the protecting the body. Antioxidants help foods to become disease resistant super foods. Blueberries are high in antioxidants making them a delicious, healthy antioxidant fruit. There are more than one type of antioxidant in blueberries. Some of these include:
Anthocyanin
Pterostilbene Ellagic Acid Resveratrol Many studies have been done or are currently being done on the effects of these antioxidants. One estimate that I saw was that over 30,000 studies have been published on the health benefits of antioxidants in the past few years. As the list of benefits continues to grow, even more research will take place. A new live animal study which was released to the public in March of 2008 showed that live animals, including fruit-eating birds, choose blueberries because they have a high antioxidant concentration. This study focuses on the flavonoids found in berries and is very interesting. Can you have too many antioxidants? One study shows you might want to be careful! Subscribe to Blueberry NewsReturn from Blueberries: Powerful Antioxidant Fruit to Home Page
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