Blueberries are known to be rich in disease-fighting antioxidants – a cup of the small fruit decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and may apparently help more in patients with metabolic syndrome – marked by at least three risks, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar and low levels of “good cholesterol”.  The syndrome elevates the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke in much of Asia and a third of the West.

At the University of East Anglia, UK, researchers evaluated the effects of eating either one cup (150g) or half a cup (75g) of freeze-dried blueberries in over 100 overweight adults. The six-month trial detailed blueberry intake through insulin resistance and cardiometabolic function in metabolic syndrome.Despite a half cup per day intake having no effect on any cardiometabolic biomarkers and unchanged insulin resistance levels, the researchers observed improved vascular function, arterial stiffness and lipid status, as well as 12–15% reductions in CVD risk.

In all, Dr. Peter J. Curtis of the Department of Nutrition and Preventative Medicine at the university, who co-authored the study, said the resulting data indicates that blueberry intakes of one cup daily could be included in dietary strategies to reduce individual and population CVD risk.