Bluberry Part Deux

        So today I'm a little embarrassed, I forgot to bring my camera to the blueberry festival! However, I can tell you that it was a good learning experience. Friday the weather was terrible, and it kept many people from coming out. Saturday there was not any rain, but it was VERY HOT. Overall, I was glad that I tried out festival life, but I'm currently not sure what the next step for me will be. It has inspired me to revamp my etsy.com shop and finish up my commissions. As far as summer, it is too hot to travel around doing festivals, but after Labor day who knows...

A couple weeks ago, I gave you the DL on lemons. So after my informative weekend, today I want to share with you the power of BLUEBERRIES.  

This fruit is a powerhouse! 

Health BenefitsBlueberries are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and have various health benefits associated with them. Some of them include the following: Blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants. The antioxidants play a pivotal role in keeping our body healthy and young. They help fight free radicals of the body, which damage the cells of the body as we grow older. They may also result in the degeneration of the DNA. Blueberries provide protection against the same These berries are rich in an anti-cancer agent, several, which helps combat the fatal disease They contain chemicals that are believed to decrease the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells by a considerable percentage Research has confirmed that blueberries not only slow the aging process but also reverse it Various experiments conducted have also indicated that eating blueberries improves short term memory loss and improves balance and coordination A compound found in blueberries called the pterostilbene, has been found to develop into a nutraceutical for lowering cholesterol If consumed regularly, these berries have shown to improve night time vision and promote quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare They are also beneficial in reducing effects of age related conditions such as Alzheimer's or Dementia These wonder berries provide respite against both diarrhea and constipation They are rich sources of soluble and insoluble fiber and contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation Regularly consuming blueberries helps in fighting urinary tract infections. When selecting berries:  One should be extremely careful while selecting berries. One should pick those, which have a deep and uniform colour with a wheatish bloom. It is advisable to shake the container they are in; take the packet only of the berries are moving freely in the packet. If the berries are not moving freely in the packet, this merely indicates that the berries are likely to be soft, moldy or damaged. One should avoid berries, which are soft or watery in texture. They should also be free from water, as the presence of water is likely lead to their decay. They are primarily cultivated in the United States and are available from May through October, whereas imported berries may be found at other times of the year as well. You might also want to consider buying skin products that contain Blueberries:  According to Dr. Perricone, one of the worlds foremost skin care experts, Blueberry along with the acai berry have one of the highest known levels of antioxidants of any food. Higher levels of antioxidants than red wine and green tea combined. It is full of amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Blueberries have many uses as blueberry extract has been used in ancient herbal and medicinal treatments for thousands of years. Many skin care treatments now use blends of blueberry extracts along with other herbs to help revitalize the skin and hasten healing. These treatments have been clinically proven to decrease healing time for skin peels, especially deeper skin peels like the TCA skin peel. They have also shown marked ability at reducing scarring in wound and burn treatment, although more research is needed.  STOP wrinkles in there track!  Go out and get some berries today! A.