• In studies at the USDA labs at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR, blueberries ranked among the highest in antioxidant activity when compared to more than 100 other foods. (Wu, X et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2004, 5:4026-37.) Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules linked to the development of a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
• Ongoing research points to a possible relationship between blueberries and healthy brain function. In a study at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Boston, a diet rich in blueberries reversed some loss of balance and coordination and improved short-term memory in aging rats (Joseph, J.A. et al. J Neurosci. 1999, 19:8114-21.) Subsequent studies on mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms demonstrated that blueberry supplementation caused signal transmission between brain cells to approach normal activity. (Lau, F.C. et al. Neurobiol. Aging 2005, 26S:128-132.) These findings may have important implications for our aging U.S. population.
• Preliminary studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey suggest that antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, which 
are found in blueberries, can inhibit infection-causing bacteria from adhering to the lining of the urinary tract. (Schmidt, B. M. et al.
J Agric Food Chem. 2004, 52:6433-42.) Just one-half cup of blueberries helps meet the government’s recommended goal of 2 cups (4 servings) of fruit a day for adults. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and veggies provides a wide range of valuable nutrients like fiber, vitamins and potassium, helps maintain a healthy weight and may reduce the risk of many diseases. For more information about blueberries and health, visit www.blueberry.org.