Natural Solutions of Blueberries

We love berries!   July happens to be National Blueberry Month in the United States. Blueberries are grown in 35 states, and the United States produces over 90% of all of the blueberries in the world. Did you know that eating blueberries could also be one of the keys to living to a ripe old age? Well, if you take a look at the research, foods that are rich in antioxidants are supposed to help reduce your chance of getting cancer and heart disease, and blueberries are loaded with them. Not only are we interested in blueberries but we also love other berries too! Take a look.     Become Blue As a child, were you fearful of the scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Violet Beauregarde blows up into a gigantic blueberry after chewing blueberry pie-flavored gum? Or were you scared of the fact that she had to be rolled out and "squeezed" before she exploded? Lucky for us, blueberries have quite a different reaction in our bodies. Why you can't live life without blueberries.   Better Late Than Never Aronia melanocarpa is a plant that has been hidden in plain sight for many years. In a 1973 article titled "The Enigmatic Chokeberries," North Carolina State botanist James W. Hardin writes, "The species of Aronia (chokeberries) are native North American shrubs which are also cultivated as ornamentals... Its center of distribution is in the northeast and Great Lakes area with a southern extension into the higher elevations of the Appalachians... Aronia melanocarpa, as the epithet indicates, has black pomes [fruits] which ripen early, wither soon, and either fall or persist." More untold story of the aronia berry here.   Focus On: Antioxidants An antioxidant is a class of molecules that inhibit oxidization of other molecules. Environmental toxins such as car exhaust or cigarette smoke contain free radicals, which damage cells in your body through oxidation. Antioxidants block this damage by neutralizing the free radical. Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, lycopene, letein, zeaxanthin, selenium, alpha-lipoic acid, quercetin, ellagic acid, and hesperidin are all examples from this broad category of nutrients. Learn more about antioxidants and how they are correlated with blueberries!   Blueberry Salsa Blueberries are a great choice when it comes to antioxidants but they also have great flavor and there is no better way to showcase that than in a fresh salsa! Why not try a few easy recipes that will keep your family both well and satisfied?