Research suggests eating a cup of blueberries daily may benefit heart health

The New York Times (6/3, Bakalar) reports “researchers estimate that eating a cup of blueberries a day reduced the risk of any cardiovascular event by 13 percent and the risk of coronary heart disease by 11.4 to 14.5 percent.” In a study of 115 overweight or obese adults “aged 50 to 75 who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease,” participants who ate a cup of blueberries daily “had reduced arterial stiffness and increased levels of HDL,” and “had increased levels of anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant found in plant pigments, and increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a substance that relaxes smooth muscle cells and improves blood flow.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.