Tropical blueberry is the ultimate super fruitPublished On: Thu, Apr 28th, 2011 | Biochemistry | By BioNews
A new study has suggested that some of the blueberries that grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America are extreme super fruits, and could provide the most protection against heart disease, cancer and other conditions.
Edward Kennelly and colleagues note that although there are over 600 species of blueberries and blueberry-like fruits growing in Mexico, Central and South America (the so-called “neotropics”), very little research has been done on them.
U.S.-grown blueberries are already famous for their antioxidants, which help the body get rid of harmful free radicals. So, the researchers decided to find out how neotropical blueberries stacked up against a grocery-store variety.
They found that two types of neotropical blueberries were extreme super fruits — they had significantly more antioxidants than a type of blueberry commonly sold in U.S. supermarkets stores.
The researchers say that these neotropical blueberries “have the potential to be even more highly promising edible fruits.”
The study has been published in ACS” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.