PO Box 970, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
Tel. 1-207-669-6046 or 1-866-480-0000
Fax: 207-669-6048
E-mail: Gladstones@MaineMunchies.com
Dried Wild Maine Blueberries
Why should you consider Wild Blueberries? *
Recent USDA
studies show that Wild Blueberries are a tasty way to eat right and stay
healthy. Scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on
Aging at Tufts University ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity
compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables.
That means a serving of blueberries may have more of the antioxidant power you
need to fight aging, cancer, and heart disease.
The
ORAC Leader
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Fresh, frozen, canned or dried, blueberries are number
one in antioxidant activity when measured against comparable forms of other
commercially available fruits and vegetables. |
Blueberries emerged as the top antioxidant capacity fruit
in a laboratory testing procedure called ORAC - Oxygen Radical Absorbance
Capacity developed by the USDA*. ORAC has become the definitive measurement of
antioxidant capacity.
*Source - Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 44:701-705; 3343-3426, 1996; 46:2686-2693,
1998
How
Antioxidants Keep You Healthy
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Antioxidants are the "natural zappers" of free radicals-unstable oxygen molecules associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. Recent USDA studies measured the antioxidant activity of more than 40 commercially available fruits and vegetables and ranked blueberries #1. |
Every day, the cells in
our body wage a battle against free radicals Û unstable oxygen molecules associated
with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. Antioxidants, natural
substances found in Wild Blueberries and other fruits and vegetables, come
to the rescue, neutralizing free radicals and keeping us healthyThe
following abstracts may be purchased from the Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry
"Total Antioxidant Capacity of Fruits"; H.
Wang, G. Cao and R.L. Prior; Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Volume 44, Number 3, Pages 701-705 (1996)
"Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity of
Anthocyanins"; H. Wang, G. Cao and R.L. Prior; Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry, Volume 45, Number
2, Pages 304-309 (1997)
"Antioxidant Capacity as Influenced by Total Phenolic
and Anothocyanin Content, Maturity, and Variety of Vaccinium Species";
R.L. Prior, G. Cao, A. Martin, E. Sofic, J. McEwen, C. O'Brien, N. Lischner,
M. Ehlenfieldt, W. Kalt, G. Krewer, and C.M. Mainland; Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry, Volume 46, Number
7, Pages 2686-2693 (1998)
Benefits
of Blue
| Wild
Blueberries may be small, but scientific research shows they may have
big powers of protection. Their potential health benefits include: |
Anti-Aging
James
Joseph, Ph.D, Chief of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at
Tufts University, is working with blueberries to examine their potential to
help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes
with aging.
"The
blueberry has emerged as a very powerful food in the aging battle," said
Joseph. "Given the possibility that blueberries may reverse short-term
memory loss and forestall other effects of aging, their potential may be very
great."
Cancer Prevention
A
University of Illinois study by Mary Ann Lila Smith, Ph.D, looked at a
particular flavonoid (Flavonoids include anthocyanins, the natural substances
responsible for giving blueberries their deep-blue color.) that inhibits an
enzyme involved in promoting cancer. Of the fruits tested, Wild Blueberries
showed the greatest anti-cancer activity.
Journal of Food Science, Vol.
65, No. 2, 2000.
Urinary Tract Health
Blueberries and cranberries prevent infection
According
to research findings at the Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in
Chatsworth, N.J., blueberries help promote urinary tract health. Explains
Rutgers scientist Amy Howell, Ph.D, blueberries, like cranberries, contain
compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections
from attaching to the bladder wall.
New England Journal of Medicine
, October 8, 1998; Volume 339, Number 15; "Inhibition of the Adherence
of P-Fimbriated Escherichia coli to Uroepithelial-Cell Surfaces by Proanthocyanidin
Extracts from Cranberries
Vision Health
Blueberries may help prevent a leading cause of blindness
Wild
Blueberries, like their European cousins, bilberries, have very high concentrations
of anthocyanin, a natural compound linked with many health benefits including
reducing eyestrain and improving night vision.
At Tufts
University, Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D, director of the USDA studies that ranked
blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity, plans to study the ability of
blueberries to prevent macular degeneration, a disease of the retina and the
leading cause of blindness in people over age 65.
* The Wild Blueberry Association of
America provided the above information.