Eating blueberries may help reduce dangerous belly fat
Rats fed a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat that’s associated with heart disease and diabetes, also lowering their cholesterol and boosting glucose levels, according to a new study from the University of Michigan (UM) Cardiovascular Center.
The effect is thought to be due to the high level of phytochemicals, naturally occurring antioxidants that blueberries contain.
The new research, performed on laboratory rats, was presented at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans.
While regular blueberry intake reduced these risks for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, the health benefits were even better when combined with a low-fat diet, the research team discovered.
In addition to all the other health benefits, the group that consumed a low-fat diet had lower body weight, lower total fat mass and reduced liver mass, than those who ate a high fat diet.
An enlarged liver is linked to obesity and insulin resistance, a hallmark of diabetes.
Dr Steven Bolling, a UM heart surgeon and head of the Cardioprotection Laboratory, says “The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables has been well-researched, but our findings in regard to blueberries shows the naturally occurring chemicals they contain, such as anthocyanins, show promise in mitigating these health conditions”.
