Some people call it belly fat, some call it love handles and some call it a spare tire. No matter what you call it, one thing remains true throughout, and that is that abdominal fat is one of the worst forms of body fat to be carrying.
But there is good news – just by adding something as simple as blueberries to your diet, you can make great strides in combating this leading health problem.
What’s even better is that along the way, you can also be netting some excellent health benefits…who knew all this would be possible just by eating something as simple as a blueberry?
First, some background on abdominal fat (one of the primary targets of the blueberry benefit).
How blueberries help reduce belly fat
Fat is stored in the abdominal region in order to act as padding for the internal organs. It also releases hormones that produce inflammation. Affecting more men than women, it is a common belief among experts that individuals who carry excessive weight in the belly region are at a greater risk to develop a number of serious health problems.
Even individuals whose body mass index is normal are at risk if they tend to carry more fat in this particular region of the body.
Although much research has been done on the benefits of eating vegetables and fruits, until recently not much work had been done specifically on the topic of blueberries. Blueberries are a superfood that is high in antioxidants, yet low in calories.
This delightful fruit is known for its anthocyanins, which are phytonutrients that occur naturally and has been proven to relieve various serious health conditions.
Blueberries weight loss study
The University of Michigan recently conducted a study that included rats that were specifically bred to be obese. The rats were fed either a diet that was high in fat or a diet that was low in fat and included powdered blueberries or two percent of their total carb intake.
After only three months, rats that were fed the blueberries had lower cholesterol, less abdominal fat, and enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose control.
The results held even in rats whose diet was not health hearty, even though the strongest benefits were received by the rats that were put on the diet that was low in fat.
Blueberries are a great dieting food because not only do they effectively reduce belly fat and lower cholesterol, but blueberries have a great many other benefits as well.
Blueberries and brain health
Blueberries give the nerve-growing enzymes in the brain a little boost that will help you keep your wits about you as you grow older. Diets that are rich in blueberries effectively protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and oxidative stress. In addition, studies prove that eating blueberries may effectively reverse memory loss.
Eating a diet that is rich In blueberries may also help reduce inflammation in the digestive system
Blueberries have tannins that work as astringents in the digestive system, effectively reducing inflammation and easing constipation and diarrhoea.
In addition, blueberries effectually promote support for the urinary tract because they contain the same compound that is in cranberries, helping with urinary infections.
Blueberries may also help fight osteoporosis
Blueberries help the body fight against osteoporosis in women because it slows down the breakdown of the bones that occurs following menopause similar to the way that estrogen helps to build strong bones.
Not only can blueberries help to reduce your body fat, and more importantly one of the most dangerous forms of body fat (that being belly-fat or abdominal fat), but there are a great many health benefits to including blueberries as part of a regular balanced diet.
All things considered, this simple and tasty fruit is a definite winner in terms of weight control and overall health.
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