Blueberries Benefits And Side Effects: Healthy Or Unhealthy?

Blueberries Benefits And Side Effects: Blueberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Discover their benefits and side effects!

About Blueberries

About Blueberries
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Blueberries have been food for centuries! It helps prevent and treat various diseases. Especially heart disease and diabetes. The benefits of blueberries are antioxidants “Anthocyanosides.” It protects against free radicals that cause infections. Blueberry tea protects and improves eye health. It helps digestion and increases blood circulation.

Blueberries, scientifically called “Vaccinium Myrtillus,” grow in cold and temperate climates in the northern and southern hemispheres. It is closely related to plants such as blueberries, hunchbacks, cranberries, and pineals, from heather sourcing with approximately 450 varieties. The plant grows up throughout the year to an average length of 40 cm. We can pick the fruits at the end of the summer.

Herbal use of Blueberries

They use dried ripe berries (Myrtilli Fructus) in herbal medicine. To a lesser extent, the leaves (Myrtilli folium).

Typical characteristics of Blueberry

The Blueberry is an up to 80 cm high, deciduous dwarf shrub with short stems and small, alternate, serrated leaves. The flowers stand alone or in twos on the leaf axes and are pale red to greenish or whitish.

Properties of blueberries

The shrub also bears small round, blue-black berries. Dried blueberries have a spherical shape with a wrinkled surface and a diameter of about 6 mm. Occasionally they still hang from the remains of stems. Inside the berries are brown-red seeds.

Blueberries exude a slightly sweetish smell. The taste of blueberries is sweet-sour and somewhat astringent.

Benefits of Blueberries

Benefits of Blueberries
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Blueberries are antioxidants. 

Blueberries have antioxidants such as: 

  • Anthocyanins
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B complex
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin A 
  • Copper (a very useful immune and antibacterial)
  • Zinc
  • Iron (in the blood improves the immune by raising the concentration of hemoglobin and oxygen)

It protects the immune system and prevents infections, colds, and fevers, reducing the risk of developing harmful viral and bacterial infectious diseases.

List of Blueberries Benefits

  • It regulates blood sugar. When eaten fresh, it cleans the blood.
  • It prevents loss of vision.
  • Blueberry cleans the urinary tract.
  • It protects brain health.
  • It’s a natural antidepressant.
  • It protects against heart disease.
  • Blueberries, the most antioxidant nutrient, thus protect the body against free radicals and strengthen the immune system.
  • It regulates the digestive system.
  • It protects against cancer.
  • Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C.
  • It protects the body against bad cholesterol and regulates cholesterol levels.
  • Tea made from leaves and dried fruits has diarrhea-relieving properties
  • It reduces and regulates the effect of menstrual days.
  • It regulates the balance of sugar in the body.
  • Prevents the arteries from clogging up.
  • It’s less in calories. One hundred grams of blueberries contains about 57 calories. For this reason, an indispensable intermediate meal for diet lists.
  • It has a calming ability.

Side Effects of Blueberries

Side Effects of Blueberries
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Blueberries do not have known side effects. However, it is necessary to worry that excessive consumption of each food may cause various side effects because its leaves contain tannin.

Tannin substance

Tannin substance, also found in black teas, can cause rapid weight loss and heart spasms when over-consumed. On the other hand, blueberries can reduce the effect of these drugs if the person who uses them regularly has medications. Therefore, it is crucial to consult the doctor before using Blueberries or any drug use. Always ask your doctor in case of any side effects that may arise with overuse.

prevent blood clots

Blueberries prevent blood clots during menstruation in women and may cause excessive bleeding. Dont consume during and before menstruation. It will increase bleeding before any injury or surgery.

digestion healthy

Blueberries provide benefits such as exercising the intestines, treating constipation, and keeping digestion healthy by being a source of fiber. At the same time, gas, bloating, diarrhea, etc., may occur in excess use, i.e., excessive fiber intake. To avoid the effects, a specialist physician should get consulted in advance. The daily fiber requirement in women is 25 grams, and in men, it is 38 grams. One cup of Blueberries is 3.7 grams.

blood-watering

Blueberries have a blood-watering effect, so women in preoperative or menstruation should not consume them. It also contains Salicylic acid, which can cause various side effects in people susceptible to salicylate. Some problems such as nausea, vomiting, reflux, bloating, gas, and headache may get seen after eating blueberries.

Although it has not caused any adverse results in its consumption during pregnancy, excessive use should still get avoided during this period.

lowering blood sugar

Blueberries have the effect of lowering blood sugar. For this reason, people with diabetes who need to take drugs must consult their doctor before consuming this fruit or its derivatives.

Most Asked Questions About Blueberries

For what do blueberries help?

In addition to anthocyanins, vitamins, and minerals, special tanning agents also make blueberries healthy: Tanning agents combat diarrhea, inhibit the multiplication of bacteria, and accelerate the healing of mucous membrane inflammations. However, this effect is observed primarily in dried blueberries.

Are blueberries laxatives?

What should you consider when using blueberries? Only use dried blueberries for the treatment of diarrhea. On the other hand, the fresh berries make diarrhea worse – they have a slightly laxative effect.

Are blueberries good for the stomach?

Anyone who consumes up to 100 grams of blueberries a day can do good for the body. Because blueberries have an anti-inflammatory effect, help you lose weight, and positively impact the intestines and different parts of the body.

Can blueberries cause diarrhea?

Blueberries can sometimes cause diarrhea, and they can also help you with diarrhea. The contained tanning agents are responsible for the healing effect in case of diarrhea. These tannins have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.

Why are berries so healthy?

These secondary plant compounds are even said to protect against cancer. Blackberries contain exceptionally high levels of vitamin A, which is essential for the retina, skin, and mucous membranes. Gooseberries keep the connective tissue of the arteries elastic and are also suitable for hair and nails, thanks to their high silicon content.

Are blueberries hypotensive?

Blueberries lower blood pressure. Two hundred grams of blueberries per day can improve blood vessel function and lower blood pressure. After eating them, effects can be observed that last for several hours.

Are blueberries or raspberries healthier?

The hedge fruits are particularly rich in vitamins: they contain twice as much vitamin E as other berries, vitamin C, and provitamin A. Blackberries are also rich in magnesium, calcium, and potassium.

Can you eat dried blueberries?

You can use this healing effect on diarrheal diseases. However, it would help if you only used dried blueberries instead of fresh ones. Fresh blueberries have the opposite effect, as they have a slightly laxative effect.

Do blueberries contain iron?

Besides vitamin C, blueberries also contain minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, and tannic acid.

Are blueberries good for diabetes?

Blueberries reduce the risk of diabetes. Regular consumption of blueberries can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes – provided they are consumed as whole fruit and not in liquid form.

When are the blueberries ripe?

Ripe blueberries get recognized by the dark blue color of their stems. So you can harvest fresh blueberries from the beginning of July to September. Depending on the plants’ variety and stage of development, a total harvest of about 4 to 5 kg of berries per bush is possible.

Are blueberries poisonous to dogs?

No, there are not poisonous to dogs. 

Are dogs allowed to eat blueberries? 

Yes, dogs can eat blueberries. Blueberries get loaded with full of vitamins and nutrients that can provide your dog with high nutritional value. Some commercial food brands even contain blueberries in their composition.

How to store blueberries?

The shelf life of blueberries. The fruits can get stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The optimal temperature is 0 degrees. However, they lose their aroma over an extended period and can develop bitter substances. Blueberries can be frozen or dried very well.

How healthy are fresh blueberries?

Blueberries are very low in calories and are healthy, among other things, because they contain a lot of vitamin C. Other ingredients that contribute to blueberries being healthy are the colorings contained in the fruit.

Conclusion

To better understand and the best health advice for yourself, please always ask your doctor about blueberries’ benefits and side effects.

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Last Updated on 18/04/2022 by Buzz This Viral