Low consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the main modifiable risk factors associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
100 grams of blueberries a day improves cardiovascular function in healthy men, is the main conclusion of a recent research carried out by experts from King's College London (United Kingdom), who monitored 45 healthy adult men (aged 18-45) for one month. Participants were given whole blueberry powder, equivalent to 100 grams of fresh blueberries a day, and was compared with a control group that received a placebo.
The clinical trial explored the cardiovascular effects of freeze-dried whole cranberry powder, finding that daily consumption may yield long-term benefits for heart health. The study, published in the journal Food & Function, indicates that the natural compounds of the blueberries, known as polyphenols, can improve blood vessel function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Those men who consumed the berries every day saw their arteries widen. 1.1% after one month, a key sign of improved blood flow. If the arteries narrow, it can decrease blood flow to the heart and trigger a host of health problems and even a heart attack. There were no changes in the control group.
"Our findings provide strong evidence that blueberries can significantly affect vascular health even in people with low cardiovascular risk. This study also indicates that specific metabolites present in the blood after blueberry consumption are linked to the beneficial effects," explains Christian Hess of the University of Surrey, who also participated in the study.
The boost in widening of the arteries is thought to occur when the body breaks down the fruit and the blood becomes rich in antioxidants.
Analysis of blood and urine samples showed that 13 chemical substances contained in blueberries were associated with increased levels of foot-and-mouth disease.
"The increases in polyphenols and metabolites in the bloodstream and the related improvements in flow-mediated dilation following blueberry consumption emphasizes the important role that blueberries may play in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The fact that these improvements in cardiovascular health were observed with an amount of blueberries that can reasonably be consumed daily makes blueberries a an important fruit in the prevention of cardiovascular disease for the general public ," explains Ana Rodríguez-Mateos, senior lecturer in nutrition in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King's College and co-author of the work.
Regardless, the researchers emphasize that this is not proof of a causal connection, but the findings direct researchers toward more focused future studies that could focus on possible direct mechanisms.
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