1. Blueberries are a super food. They offer excellent levels of vitamin C (especially if eaten raw), manganese, fiber, and antioxidants.
2. They are scientifically shown to decrease your risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, heart disease, peptic ulcers, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
3. Having blueberries as a regular part of your diet is also scientifically linked to making learning easier, especially as we grow older.
4. Each cup of blueberries has just 81 calories and is low on the glycemic index (meaning the fruit won't make your blood sugar spike the way most other berries do).5. Blueberry bushes make terrific hedges or shrubs for your yard. Why plant an ornamental when you can have a beautiful bush that also produces excellent food? Blueberry bushes come in many sizes, and some have foliage that turn red in the fall.
6. Blueberries are easy to pick - even for little people.
7. Blueberries are easy to grow. The only thing they are picky about is soil; it must be acidic. If your soil isn't acidic (or if you're unsure whether it's acidic or not), plant your blueberries in large pots, using acidic potting soil (often marketed for rhododendrons and azaleas, to which blueberries are related.) Then just give them full sun (at least 6 hours a day).
8. Blueberries store well in the fridge. If you don't wash them first, they last a couple of weeks. 9. They are also super-easy to freeze. Just arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, stick the baking sheet in the freezer, and allow the berries to turn hard. (It takes about a half hour.) Then transfer the berries to a freezer container. They'll last about a year. 10. Blueberries are delicious! Seriously, my kids eat them like candy. They are a terrific snack or salad topper, eaten raw. Or add them to pancakes, waffles, muffins, cakes, quick breads, cobblers, or pies. They are also a great topping for ice cream or yogurt.
No comments