Health Benefits, Anti-Aging Potential Prompts New Interest in Wild Blueberries

09/07/08 The new generation of healthy eaters is eschewing old adages about relying on the usual fruits to keep the doctor away. Instead, they are adopting the Wild Blueberry as their new dietary favorite. Promising research about the Wild Blueberry has encouraged today's eaters to go "wild" over the nutrient-rich fruit. New interest in eating well and maintaining health by eating whole foods, natural foods, and organic foods, as well as getting the optimum number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day, has contributed to the swell of interest, prompting many to seek original ways to integrate Wild Blueberries into their diet.

The nutritional possibilities packed into this single food have created the perfectly delicious storm of interest that suggests a growing number of people consider a dose of Wild Blueberries an everyday essential for health. Promising health benefits of blueberries, and especially Wild Blueberries, include ongoing studies focused on antioxidant activity, anti-aging, cancer prevention, urinary tract health, protection against stroke, and heart and vision health. Recent discoveries that attribute potential health benefits to antioxidants such as anthocyanin, anti-inflammatories and other natural compounds found in the deep blue pigment of Wild Blueberries, are adding to its allure.

Kids have been especially eager to adopt this new appreciation of the Wild Blueberry. The blue color makes food vibrant and fun, and its compact finger-food size offers all types of eating enjoyment. They are also versatile and intensely flavorful -- one of the essential benefits of blueberries that are grown wild. Wild varieties of the berry are known for their unique mixture of sweet and tangy, which creates a delicious burst of flavor that can't be replicated in any other fruit.

"The growing interest in enjoying frozen Wild Blueberries has been undeniable," said Wild Blueberry Association of North America President J. Kim Higgins. "People around the country are responding to the tremendous health benefits and promising research, and making Wild Blueberries a staple of drinks, meals, and snacks in a variety of ways. The sky's the limit for this powerful blue fruit, as it continues to produce generations of people who are 'wild' for Wild Blueberries," Higgins said. "We're pleased to be on the forefront of offering resources for those eager for information, research and new ways to integrate the berry into a daily meal plan."

Wild Blueberries frequently turn up as part of healthy diets in desserts and for breakfast -- just a half-cup of Wild Blueberries on cereal or blended into a smoothie is a delicious and antioxidant-rich way to get fruit into your daily diet. But more than ever before, Wild Blueberries are showing up as a flavorful ingredient in entrees, salads, and on-the-go snacks. Frozen Wild Blueberries are a favorite for those looking for an easy-to-use ingredient right out of the freezer, and according to the FDA, frozen blueberries are just as healthy as fresh. In fact, they may even retain their nutritional value longer, helping to achieve additional servings of fruit in their diet year round.

The Wild Blueberry Association of North America continues to support its mission and meet the demand of Wild Blueberry enthusiasts with the launch of a redesigned website, Wild Blueberries, Nature's Antioxidant Superfruit. The site provides a one-stop destination for the latest research and nutrition information about the popular berry, as well as information about Wild Blueberry growers and Wild Blueberry-themed fairs and festivals that make great summer vacation destinations. The site also features unique recipes just in time for summer for those interested in integrating Wild Blueberries into their diet in new, delicious ways. Health conscious eaters can get their dose of blue simply by visiting the Wild Blueberry Recipes section of the site where they can download recipes for easy Savory Salad with Goat Cheese and Wild Blueberry Sauce, Chicken Saté with Wild Blueberry Peanut Butter Sauce, Wild Blueberry Creamsicle, and a selection of favorite muffin, pie, smoothie and crisp recipes.