Blueberries contain very high amounts of flavonoids. A high flavonoid diet is associated

 with healthy aging and longevity. I am reminded of a study done to figure out why the

 Japanese people of the Okinawa Islands enjoy such good health. These people have

the highest number per capita of people over 100. This was found to be due to a diet

high in flavonoid-containing foods.

Most fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids - the darker the color of the fruit or vegetable,

the higher in flavonoids it is. This is why blueberries, huckleberries and berries of all kinds

are so good for you.

Another way to look at flavonoids is as excellent antioxidants, or anti-aging molecules.

When our cells burn fuel for energy, they produce free-radicals as a waste product.

Free-radicals damage cells causing cell death and aging. Antioxidants soak up free-radicals

 like a sponge soaks up water, decreasing cellular damage and thereby decreasing the effects

 of aging.

Blueberries contain a flavonoid called proanthocyanin, which are helpful for protecting vision.

 Specifically, they are known to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of age-related

 macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. They also improve night vision.

Because proanthocyanins are so good at improving the strength and number of blood vessels,

 blueberries are good for the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids and wound healing.

Current research on berries focuses on the benefits to memory in age-related cognitive decline

and the prevention of brain injury after stroke. Flavonoids from berries are also being shown to

have anti-cancer properties with one study showing specific benefit on colon cancer cells.

Lastly, all antioxidants by their very nature are anti-inflammatory. Medical research points to

 chronic inflammation as a factor in many degenerative diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's,

heart disease and arthritis. This may be why diets high in fruits and vegetables are the only

 nutritional recommendation consistently shown in the research to benefit health and longevity.

If that doesn't convince you to eat blueberries along with other fruits and vegetables, I don't

 know what will.

Isn't it wonderful something that tastes as good as berries can be so good for us? Get down

 to the farmers market and pick up some berries. Eat them fresh, cook them or freeze them for later - they retain all their goodness whether frozen or cooked.