Health Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries May Lower Cholesterol

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Besides tasting great and looking good, new research studies at the United States Department of Agriculture have revealed that blueberries can also lower cholesterol better than prescription drugs. This is due to the antioxidant compound found in blueberries called pterostilbene. Its effect is similar to a commercial medication, Ciprofibrate (sold under the name of “Modalim”) that is used to reduce “bad” or LDL cholesterol. Blueberries have been shown to give a similar result to Ciprofibrate without the drug’s side effects of muscle pain and nausea.

What is Pterostilbene?
Pterostilbene is an antioxidant, similar to resveratrol, which is another compound found in grapes and red wine, that is shown to help fight cancer, heart disease, and lower cholesterol. According to Dr. Rimando, with Drs. Rangaswamy Nagmani and Dennis Feller from the University of Mississippi, pterostilbene is the powerful ingredient when it comes to stimulating a receptor protein in your cells, which plays an important role in reducing cholesterol and other body fat. Because this blueberry compound targets the receptor protein in your body more accurately than commercial drugs, you are less likely to experience side effects that you would have with prescription drugs.

Belinda Linden (Head of Medical Information) from the British Heart Foundation said: "Research has suggested that natural chemicals found in fruit, including blueberries, have potent antioxidant properties which may reduce the harmful type of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL).”

Dr. Agnes Rimando of the United States Department of Agriculture also said at the National meeting of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia that "Blueberries, which are already known to be rich in healthy compounds, may also be a potent weapon in the battle against obesity and heart disease.”

The simple conclusion is that blueberries lower cholesterol as effectively as drugs, but without the negative side effects.

Resources used:
http://www2.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?id=114149&D=24&M=8&Y=2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3591384.stm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12443
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5800742/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8

Other interesting articles on blueberries and its power to reduce cholesterol:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/187564_blueberry24.html
A compound in blueberries appears to be as effective at lowering cholesterol as a commercial drug, with fewer side effects, according to a new study using cells from rat livers.

http://cholesterol.about.com/od/cholesterolnutrition101/a/blueberries.htm
Blueberries may not be good just to put in muffins anymore. In fact, according to some researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they may be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/93/102127.htm
Blueberries contain a powerful cholesterol and fat fighting compound, USDA researchers report.

http://www.heartinfo.org/ms/news/520795/main.html
Blueberries May Be Cholesterol Busters
A compound in the fruit lowered blood fat in a lab study with rats.

http://foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=54296&n=dt237&c=dftowxjyiybonne
A compound identified in blueberries could be the next key health ingredient in food formulations as researchers find it can effectively lower cholesterol.

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