Consuming wild blueberries or “bilberries,” can help to reduce the negative effects of a high-fat diet and fight obesity. This was studied in a researcher conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, which found that blueberries were beneficial for improving blood pressure and nutrition-derived inflammatory responses.
Low-grade inflammation and high blood pressure are often linked to obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes. “Low-grade metabolic inflammation and hypertension are primary mechanisms involved in obesity-associated adverse health effects,” the authors wrote in the abstract. “Berries, especially Nordic wild blueberries (bilberries), represent an important source of dietary anthocyanins, a group of polyphenols with potential beneficial effects to combat obesity-associated metabolic disturbances.”
In another study conducted by Shiwani Moghe, MS, a graduate student at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton, TX, to evaluate whether blueberry polyphenols play a role in adipocyte differentiation, the process in which a relatively unspecialized cell acquires specialized features of an adipocyte, an animal connective tissue cell specialized for the synthesis and storage of fat.
Blueberry Aid
- Early lab studies indicate that regular consumption of blueberries (including the blueberry pill) inhibits adipogenesis (process in which the precursors to fat cells become actual adipocytes).
- As high blood pressure is one of the contributing factor for obesity, the little blue fruit can help in lowering blood pressure. Results from a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics show that regular daily consumption of blueberries is linked to hypertension prevention and lowered high blood pressure, which may be due to an increase in nitric oxide production.
- To fight obesity, if sugar is one of your enemy, fiber can be your key ally, and the blueberry is a good weapon of choice that can help in managing hunger levels with ease.
Although heredity is a prime factor in obesity, but managing it with a healthy diet can help further detoriation and aid in weightloss.
Note: Freezing blueberries improves their antioxidant content. They are not a cure-all, but regular consumption of blueberries can provide several advantages—especially when healthful lifestyle practices are followed.
