Blueberries are now in season – a perfect time to visit a blueberry farm to pick them fresh, add them to your daily meals, and (if you’re ambitious) freeze them for future use.   Kids will eat them by the handful – they can taste their natural sweetness in every bite.   Despite their natural sugars, blueberries are low in calories (only 100 calories in a cup) and are low on the glycemic index, which means that they will not spike blood sugars.  Studies have also found that blueberries can help regulate blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.   

But the best news is that blueberries are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and they can improve your memory too!  Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fruits and vegetables.  As we teach kids in our classes, antioxidants neutralize free radical scavengers that can cause damage to our bodies at the cellular level.  Blueberries are also loaded with phytonutrients (“phyto” means “plant”).  They get their deep blue color from phytonutrients called anthocyanins, which have powerful antioxidant and antiflammatory powers.  Anthocyanins, as well as other phytonutrients found in blueberries, can prevent degenerative diseases, including heart disease, stroke, memory loss, and possibly cancer.  A study also found that regular consumption of blueberries can prevent memory loss as we age.  Blueberries are definitely on our "smart foods" list!  Adding blueberries to your diet (2-3 cups a week) will not only support your health, but could keep your mind sharp too.  Since blueberries do not lose their antioxidant capacity when frozen, why not visit a blueberry farm this summer and store up on this superstar fruit!