Blueberries Help Stop Arteries from Hardening

Deadly heart attacks and strokes are sometimes caused by arteriosclerosis which occurs from the narrowing of arteries causing a decrease in blood flow through the body. The narrowing is caused by a buildup of plaque made up of calcium, cholesterol, fat, and other products that harden in the artery.

But now there is proven evidence from scientists of a natural combatant of this plaque with no side effects. And it’s delicious! This plaque fighting superhero is none other than the blueberry.

A study was conducted involving 30 young mice with arteriosclerosis that were also deficient in a fat-regulating chemical. This made it easy for the mice to develop lesions from the disease, which were studied and compared. Powder from blueberries that had been freeze-dried were given to 15 of the mice for 140 days. The amount of powder they received was equivalent to 4 ounces of blueberries. The other 15 mice ate the same food without the blueberry powder. The results after the study showed the mice ingesting the blueberry powder had lesions measuring roughly 40-60% less in size than the mice not eating the powder.

Earlier tests have indicated that ingesting blueberries can stave off cardiovascular disorders. However, no others have shown a direct link connecting the blueberries to diminished plaque in arteries.

The next step is to find out exactly what blueberries do to cause this significant and beneficial effect of helping tame arteriosclerosis. Some of that will involve eating blueberries at different stages in life from infancy through adulthood. Will the blueberries prevent arteriosclerosis from forming in the first place? Or will they keep the disease from progressing? Or will they only decrease the effects of the disease once it has started?

We are only recently unlocking the beneficial health secrets of blueberries, and they have also shown to help prevent cancers, obesity, and elements related to aging. 

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