Flex Your Arteries with This Summer Fruit

Keep your arteries healthy, flexible, and clog-free by tossing a handful of sweet, juicy blueberries into your morning yogurt cup.

Research suggests that the antioxidants in these fruity blue gems may help protect arteries because they cut down on the harmful arterial lesions that give stiff, fatty plaques a place to form.

Blueberry Shields, Forever
In a recent study of animals that were at high risk of artery lesions, eating a blueberry-supplemented diet appeared to have a very protective effect. The blueberry-fed animals experienced smaller arterial-wall lesions compared with the animals on a blueberry-free diet. In fact, arterial-wall lesions were anywhere from 40 to 60 percent smaller in the blueberry-fed subjects. Pretty major difference. And the researchers think that key antioxidant compounds in blueberries may take the credit for that difference. These special blueberry antioxidants help clamp down on oxidative processes that can damage blood vessel walls and form lesions. (Related: Find out what else you should feed your heart to keep it young.)

Antioxidants for Arteries
More research is needed to determine whether blueberries may hinder the progression of atherosclerotic plaques in people, too. But a handful of human studies have already shown that berry antioxidants are plenty kind to our arteries, thanks to similar anti-inflammatory effects. Need more reasons to eat your blueberries? Check out these other established health benefits:

• Steadier blood sugar: Here's how adding blueberries to your oatmeal helps steady your blood sugar.
• Better blood pressure: Find out how blueberries helped lower people's blood pressure in just 8 weeks.
• A happier colon: Discover why blueberries are such a boon to colon health.