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March 23, 2010
Health Benefits
Big things come in small packages as these berries prove. These tiny berries pack quite a big amount of nutrition, beating out lemons in limes as it carries more minerals other than vitamin C. It has fiber, magnesium, potassium, iron and phytochemicals that contain antioxidants. Plus they are low in calories (just 81 calories per cup), fat, and sodium. Because of the existence of all these, free radical cell damage is neutralized as well as age-related memory problems, cataracts, varicose veins, heart disease and cancer, among many others, are prevented.
Tips when Buying and Storing Blueberries
1 Choose firm, plump, blue berries with a dusty white sheen. These are the ripest and best tasting. (Reddish berries are not ripe.) Shake the container to make sure the berries move freely. If they're soft, damp or damaged, they'll stick together and soon get moldy and rot.
2 Pick out any bad berries to prevent the spread of mold and then store in the fridge in a container with holes. Blueberries will keep for about a week, but should be eaten as soon as possible.
3 Fresh berries are very fragile and should be briefly washed and gently patted dry. But washing blueberries removes the protective coating, so don't wash them until just before using.
4 Frozen blueberries make great snacks. When buying frozen berries, shake the bag to make sure they don't clump together. Clumping indicates they've probably been thawed and refrozen.
5 To freeze fresh blueberries, fill a plastic zip lock bag ¾ full, place in the freezer and shake every couple of hours until frozen – this keeps them from sticking together. Or freeze them spread out on a cookie sheet and pour into a storage container once frozen. They'll keep for up to a year.
Healthy Blueberry Recipes
Why and how to enjoy these lovely berries
By: Angelo Comsti
What are blueberries?
With flavors that range from mildly sweet to tart and tangy, blueberries are nutritional stars bursting with nutrition and flavor while being very low in calories. Blueberries are at their best from May through October when they are in season. Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath family, which includes the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy "bloom" that covers the surface serving as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds.
With flavors that range from mildly sweet to tart and tangy, blueberries are nutritional stars bursting with nutrition and flavor while being very low in calories. Blueberries are at their best from May through October when they are in season. Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath family, which includes the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy "bloom" that covers the surface serving as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds.
Health Benefits
Big things come in small packages as these berries prove. These tiny berries pack quite a big amount of nutrition, beating out lemons in limes as it carries more minerals other than vitamin C. It has fiber, magnesium, potassium, iron and phytochemicals that contain antioxidants. Plus they are low in calories (just 81 calories per cup), fat, and sodium. Because of the existence of all these, free radical cell damage is neutralized as well as age-related memory problems, cataracts, varicose veins, heart disease and cancer, among many others, are prevented.
Tips when Buying and Storing Blueberries
1 Choose firm, plump, blue berries with a dusty white sheen. These are the ripest and best tasting. (Reddish berries are not ripe.) Shake the container to make sure the berries move freely. If they're soft, damp or damaged, they'll stick together and soon get moldy and rot.
2 Pick out any bad berries to prevent the spread of mold and then store in the fridge in a container with holes. Blueberries will keep for about a week, but should be eaten as soon as possible.
3 Fresh berries are very fragile and should be briefly washed and gently patted dry. But washing blueberries removes the protective coating, so don't wash them until just before using.
4 Frozen blueberries make great snacks. When buying frozen berries, shake the bag to make sure they don't clump together. Clumping indicates they've probably been thawed and refrozen.
5 To freeze fresh blueberries, fill a plastic zip lock bag ¾ full, place in the freezer and shake every couple of hours until frozen – this keeps them from sticking together. Or freeze them spread out on a cookie sheet and pour into a storage container once frozen. They'll keep for up to a year.
Blueberry Three-ways
As a frozen dessert: As a unique drink: As a no-bake pie:
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COMMENTS
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mary ann Mar 31 2010 @ 03:24pm Report AbuseWhere can I buy blueberry?
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where can you find blueberries in metro manila?
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where can you find blueberries in metro manila?
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I love blueberries, especially as toppings for desserts.
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i thought blueberries are for cakes..but now got interested in blueberry tofu smoothie..sounds healthy.
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i didn't know blueberries have so many health benefits. blueberry tofu smoothie sounds interesting
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