Dr. Oz and Oprah Pick Antioxidant-Rich Blueberries for Ultimate Checklist for Great Aging

07/02/08 America's favorite doctor, Mehmet Oz, M.D., recently revealed his Ultimate Checklist for Great Aging on The Oprah Winfrey Show with blueberries topping the list as an antioxidant powerhouse. According to Dr. Oz, blueberries are one of his "favorite" anti-aging superfoods. "You can tell blueberries are chockfull of antioxidants because of their dark color. All foods with dark colors in them have some of these really protecting antioxidant chemicals in them," he says. "Blueberries lead the charge."

Wild Blueberries: Nature's Antioxidant Superfruit

According to Wild Blueberry Association Nutrition Advisor Susan Davis, M.S., R.D. Wild Blueberries are loaded with protective natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants help protect cells against free radicals-unstable oxygen molecules associated with cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's and other effects of aging. A serving of Wild Blueberries has more antioxidants than most other fruits. (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52:4026-4037, 2004.) Wild Blueberry phytochemicals known as anthocyanins give the fruit its deep blue color and are at work in the body helping fend off environmental assault from poor diet, lack of exercise or other stressors.

"Research is telling us that we need to incorporate antioxidant-rich foods throughout the day to fight oxidative stress," said Davis. "Eat at least 1/2 cup of Wild Blueberries every day as part of well-balanced diet to keep your antioxidant defenses up throughout the day." Davis noted that Wild Blueberries are now available in supermarket freezer cases nationwide. Individually quick-frozen, Wild Blueberries are frozen at the peak of freshness and are just as nutritious as fresh.