A new study from the University of East Anglia has confirmed what researchers and MDs have long suspected: eating Blueberries can significantly reduce your risk of developing heat disease. But there appear to be some catches to the deal, not the least of which is the cost…
Blueberries are very delicate and are usually picked by hand.
That’s one reason they’re so expensive…
The research team wanted to see if eating Blueberries had any effect on Metabolic Syndrome – a condition, affecting 1/3 of western adults, which comprises at least three of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, low levels of ‘good cholesterol’ and high levels of triglycerides.
Lead Researcher Dr. Aedin Cassidy said: “Having Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and often statins and other medications are prescribed to help control this risk.”
What they did
The team recruited a group of overweight and obese people – already an at-risk group for Metabolic Syndrome and heart disease – and split them into two groups. One group got 150 g. / 1 cup of Blueberries a day while the other got a placebo.
The study was carried on for six months with regular follow-ups to determine both short- and long-term effects.
What they found
Co-lead Researcher, Dr. Peter Curtis said: “We found that eating one cup of blueberries per day resulted in sustained improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness – making enough of a difference to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by between 12 and 15 per cent.”
Oddly, they also found that eating less than a full cup did not produce the same beneficial effects. Researchers say they suspect that it took a larger ‘dose’ of Blueberries to achieve the desired benefits in their study group, who were already at-risk for Metabolic Syndrome.
The takeaway
“The simple and attainable message is to consume one cup of blueberries daily to improve cardiovascular health,” Curtis said.
My take
Bully, Dr. Curtis! This is certainly great news for us all. And perhaps those of us not yet at risk for Metabolic Disorder and Heart Disease can live longer, healthier lives thanks to your research. But have you considered the economics of this treatment regime? Where I live, Blueberries cost a lot of money; more in the ‘off’ season, when they have to be imported. Let’s be generous and say that I can always get Blueberries at the ‘special’ price of (C)$5 per pint box. That’s about two cups, so my cost to take Blueberries medicinally is (C)$2.50 per day. Multiply that by 365 days per year and I’m spending over (C)$900 per year on them! That’s pricey meds… You may say (C)$2.50+ a day is cheap considering the benefits offered. But a lot of folks – especially those in lower income brackets and the elderly on fixed incomes – will balk at the price and choose not to follow the plan.
Other researchers have found that other Fruits and Veggies have similar effects to Blueberries on heart health. These include Purple Plums, Blue and Black Grapes, Beetroot and Purple Carrots, and there are others. What’s going to have to happen, if the masses are going to realize a benefit from your findings, is for the cost of the Blueberry Treatment to be brought way down. The cost of Grapes and Plums isn’t going to go anywhere but up. But maybe farmers can be enticed to grow more Beetroot and/or Purple Carrots specifically for juicing and concentrating.
~ Maggie J.