What's healthier than blueberries? Say hello to "extreme" berries

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(CBS) - Blueberries are celebrated as a super fruit, jam-packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. But the "highbush" blueberries commonly sold in U.S. supermarkets don't pack nearly the antioxidant punch of some blueberry varieties that are available in South America, a new study shows.

Scientists are calling the "neotropcial" blueberries extreme superfruits - and say that with up to 11 times the antioxidant oomph of ordinary blueberries, they could afford even more protection against heart disease, cancer, and other ailments.

What's the catch? Neotropical blueberries are hard to come by in the U.S. Study co-author Dr. Paola Pedraza-Penalosa told CBS News that she was aware of only one source  - a blueberry-containing Ecuadorean chocolate bar that's sold only in specialty grocery stores.

"It's very hard to find the berries," said Dr. Pedraza-Penalosa, a scientist at the New York Botanical Garden in New York City. "But it's just a matter of time. I wouldn't be surprised if these started coming our way very soon."

In the meantime, people could do worse than eat highbush blueberries. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranked them #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are associated with numerous health benefits, including protection against cancer, urinary infections, and the build-up of "bad" cholesterol in the arteries - which can lead to heart attack and stroke. They're high in fiber and low in calories, and they contain vitamins A and C, zinc, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium.

The study was published online in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

[kenhamlett]

While we wait for super berries to show up we can always just eat two standard berries instead of one super berry.

[MostWantedAxisOfEvil]

All the good stuff comes from south of the border. Potatoes, tomatos,peanuts, avocados, chocolate, cocaine, coffe, pepper, corn,tequila,Note: there wouldnt be any Vodka without the potato.

[jmailbox]

You know, i wish they would stop these dumd articles. If you have too many "Antioxidants" they will cause more harm them good.

The whole purpose of "Antioxidants" is to bind to free radcials in the body and prevent them from causing damage. And as a whole most people get a good balanced amount of antioxidants from everyday foods that they eat.

But, too much antioxidants will cause malnutrition. Since they bond to free radcials because they are oxygen radcials inside the body, but in your stomach, free radcials are abound in foods that have iron and zinc in them, but are not harmful in the stomach as opposed to inside the body.

So having too many antioxidants will destory your bodies ability to absorb iron and zinc, two very important things for the body.

[not_fooled_by_Righties]

Cite your sources.

Let's hear about your background to be making such claims.

[kenhamlett]

not_fooled_by_Rightie said
"Let's hear about your background to be making such claims."

It is a valid opinion. If you disagree state the facts to back up your opposing opinion