blueberries

Dr. Steven Pratt, bestselling author of SuperFoods RX and SuperFoods HealthStyle is a big fan of blueberries. The good doctor (he's an ophthalmologist) first noticed a link between nutrition and health when some of his patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease, improved with a diet of nutrient-dense "super foods."

These include apples, avocado, beans, blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate, kiwi, garlic, honey, oats, extra virgin olive oil, onions, oranges, pomegranate, pumpkin, wild salmon, soy, spinach, tea, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts and yogurt. All are high in macronutrients and sources of healthy fats, carbs and proteins, and are part of the federal government's food pyramid for healthy eating -- if they're eaten in appropriate amounts.

Blueberries contain more powerful disease-fighting antioxidants than any other single fruit. Just one serving provides as many antioxidants as five servings of carrots, apples, broccoli or squash. Blueberries also have the potential to help protect against inflammation, urinary tract infections, heart disease, dementia, Type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Dr. Pratt explains, "If you want to look, think and move like a youngster as you get older, there is probably no better food. Blueberries are the best calorie-suppressed and nutrient-dense fruit of its class."

-- from Costco Connection, June 2006, page 56.