Blueberry is a Powerful Berry, but dont believe all you read on the net, thats a good rule all in all btw. The Blueberry has some great protective ingredients, but as allays go for Organic berries or Juice, way pay for chemicals.

Flavonoid Content

The USDA Database for flavonoids was created in response to interest by the scientific community in types of flavonoid compounds and their varied biological properties including antioxidative, antimicrobial, and potential anticarcinogenic, and/or cardioprotective effects.
Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council,

Proanthocyanidin Content

The free radical scavenging properties of proanthocyanidins including their potential for risk reduction of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, blood clotting and protection against urinary tract infections have been under investigation by scientists. Also referred to as “condensed tannis,” proanthocyanidins polymers of flavan-3-ols, contribute astringent flavor to foods. Following is a listing of proanthocyanidin content of raw blueberries from the USDA Database for the Proanthocyanidin Content of Selected Foods.
Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council,

Nutritional Profile of Blueberries
(Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference)

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, Health Section
From research labs all across the country and the world, there is growing evidence that blueberries could be powerful little disease fighters. Here is what we have learned so far…

Antioxidants – Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) have found that blueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products of metabolism called “free radicals” that can lead to cancer and other age related diseases.

Anthocyanin — the pigment that makes the blueberries blue — is thought to be responsible for this major health benefit.

Anti-Aging – In another USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) lab, neuroscientists discovered that feeding blueberries to laboratory rats slowed age-related loss in their mental capacity, a finding that has important implications for humans. Again, the high antioxidant activity of blueberries probably played a role.

Disease Prevention – Blueberries may reduce the build up of so called “bad” cholesterol that contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to scientists at the University of California at Davis. Antioxidants are believed to be the active component.

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections – Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have identified a compound in blueberries that promotes urinary tract health and reduces the risk of infection. It appears to work by preventing bacteria from adhering to the cells that line the walls of the urinary tract.

Cranberries is a good way to fight a urinary infection.

Blueberries and Eyesight - A number of studies in Europe have documented the relationship between bilberries, the European cousin of blueberries and improved eyesight. This is thought to occur because of the anthocyanin in the blue pigment which is also available in the blueberry. One study in Japan documented that blueberries helped ease eye fatigue.

New Research
Cholesterol Reducing Blueberries – At the recent American Chemical Society meeting it was reported that a compound found in blueberries called pterostilbene has “the potential to be developed into a nutraceutical for lowering cholesterol, particularly for those who do not respond well to conventional drugs,” reports foodnavigator.com (8/24/04). Study authors from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) indicate that the compound found in Vaccinium berries could be a “potent weapon in the battle against obesity and heart disease through its cholesterol-reducing potential.” Head researcher, Agnes M. Rimando and her associates “earlier showed that this compound may help fight cancer.” An abstract of the study is found on the Agricultural Research Service website which also studied the presence of resveratrol and piceatannol . According to the technical abstract, “These naturally occurring stilbenes, known to be strong antioxidants and to have cancer chemopreventive activity, will add to purported health benefits derived from consumption of these small fruits.”

Ethnobotany and Blueberries: Blueberries have been associated with positive physiological and cosmetic benefits for centuries. Here we list non scientific information which although not endorsed by the USHBC, may be of interest to researchers as a direction for further research.

Nutrition Summary – The following summarizes some of the published research in the area of nutraceuticals and health.

The belief that food products have medicinal properties has been celebrated in folk medicine for centuries. Today food properties are being explored by the medical and scientific fields. Some cultures have long valued many naturally occurring substances believed to have preventative and therapeutic value. In the United States, nutraceuticals are part of a rapidly expanding area of biomedical research, generating considerable interest among consumers, manufacturers, and regulators alike. This is a progressive area; the field is continually conducting studies and discovering possible benefits.

Though blueberries themselves are not a cure-all, they contain a number of substances which are thought to have health benefits. These substances include, but are not limited to fructose, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants thus far, seem to have the most conclusive role in the prevention/ delaying of such diseases as cancer, heart disease and the aging process however, a limited number of studies, especially long term and on human beings, are not available at this time.

Now that was a little about the Blueberry, but we have more which we will also have a closer look at, like ACAI, cranberry,