Kiwi Gardener

Best little blue pill

Don’t be fooled by the small size of blueberrie­s. They punch above their weight when it comes to both flavour and health benefits.

- words & Photos Blueberrie­s New Zealand

Blueberrie­s are a superfruit with one of the highest antioxidan­t levels of any fruit or vegetable.

They’re anti-inflammato­ry, low in calories and high in nutrients, including fibre, vitamins C and K, and manganese.

The flavonoid, anthocyani­n, which gives blueberrie­s their colour, is the antioxidan­t that has the greatest impact against free radical damage to our body’s cells. Foods rich in flavonoids, like blueberrie­s, also help memory and cognitive function, making them especially good for children and slowing down the brain’s ageing process.

As well as lowering our risk of heart disease and cancer, blueberrie­s have positive effects on gut health, eyesight and anti-ageing, according to Blueberrie­s New Zealand. It recommends eating eight punnets a season, so what are you waiting for? Eat up! Turn overleaf to try recipes for a delicious breakfast cookie and blueberry cobb salad.

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 ?? ?? Half a cup of blueberrie­s has the same amount of antioxidan­ts as two cups of spinach or broccoli.
Half a cup of blueberrie­s has the same amount of antioxidan­ts as two cups of spinach or broccoli.

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