Everyday Road to Healthy

  • Home
  • Healthy Eating
    • Recipes
  • Health & Fitness
    • Goal Trackers
    • Our Cancer Stories
  • Self Care
  • Home Care
  • ERTH Finds
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Copyright
    • Privacy Policy

July 8, 2011 ·

It’s National Blueberry Month… who knew??

Healthy Eating

So who knew it was national blueberry month?  Who knew there was even such a thing?  Certainly not me… but luckily I had already been doing research on how great blueberries are for you (not just to eat but actually good for you).  I generally have about 5 articles in draft mode – mainly because I seriously have a very short attention span.  I research a topic for awhile then stumble onto something else then remember ah crap I didn’t finish that first article (ok those other 4 articles).   And I tend to write mostly at night.. sometimes after a glass of wine (or two).  So the next time I read them I think oh veeh’ I really can’t publish that without some edits….

And if you’re really paying attention now you’ll  notice that we are no longer discussing blueberries and their health benefits.  Ok so back to the topic at hand it’s National Blueberry Month… who knew 🙂

Why should you be eating blueberries?  First off they are in season right now.  Secondly they taste great.  And finally because they are jam-packed full of good nutrition:

Antioxidants

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), blueberries are near the top when it comes to antioxidant activity per serving.  Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals — unstable molecules linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Substances in blueberries called polyphenols, specifically the anthocyanins that give the fruit its blue hue, are the major contributors to antioxidant antioxidant activity.

Vitamin C

In just one serving of blueberries you can get almost 25 percent of your daily requirement of Vitamin C.  The benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even wrinkles.  According to my son’s oncologist Vitamin C also helps with the absorption of iron.  She recommends consuming vitamin C foods and food rich in iron together.

Fiber

Research has shown that most of us don’t get enough fiber in our diets. A handful of blueberries can help you meet your daily fiber requirement. Eating foods high in fiber will help keep you regular, your heart healthy and your cholesterol in check.  And since were talking about regularity did you know there are compounds in blueberries that also help to prevent urinary tract infections?

 

Blueberries are a pretty versatile food in that you can toss them into just about anything  (pancake batter, salads, smoothies, etc…)  for a touch of sweetness.  I’ve been eating mine recently on top of my morning bowl of oatmeal.

And I know a neighbor of mine just spent 2 days turning her vast amount of blueberries into 84 jars of blueberry jam.  YES 84 jars!  I think she’s a little crazy but hoping she still likes me enough to send a jar my way ;)   Multiply this photo by 84 to envision what her blueberry jam stash looks like….

 

Here is my quick and easy blueberry smoothie recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 frozen banana, thawed for 10 to 15 minutes
  • 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
  • 1 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons flax seed meal
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
  • 2/3 cup frozen blueberries

Directions

  1. Cut banana into small pieces and place into the bowl of a blender. Add the soy milk, yogurt, flax seed meal, and honey. Blend on lowest speed until smooth, about 5 seconds. Gradually add the blueberries while continuing to blend on low. Once the blueberries have been incorporated, increase speed, and blend to desired consistency.

Now just one note of caution – domestic blueberries are currently ranked number 10 on the dirty dozen list for pesticides.  So please try to purchase  organic blueberries when possible.

What are your favorite blueberry recipes?  Send us an email with your recipe (include a photo if you can)… and we’ll share with the rest of our ERTH readers.

 

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
0 Shares

Don’t miss out!

Previous Post: « Momma’s got a new pair of shoes
Next Post: Let your voice be heard at the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (cancer, diabetes, etc) »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Summer is a Time to Celebrate Great Food and Local Markets! says:
    August 18, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    […] a fan of goat cheese? How about blueberries? July was National Blueberry Month, but unfortunately, I was out of the country and couldn’t fully appreciate it in France. Now […]

Footer

LET’S GET SOCIAL

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

everydayroadtohealthy

☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ I’m we ☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ 

I’m wearing my green today and preparing to make some corned beef and cabbage for dinner, but what is this day about? Here are some fun facts:
☘️
What are we celebrating? St Patrick’s Day commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. It is celebrated on March 17th, which is the day he is believed to have died.
☘️
Why shamrocks? St. Patrick used the 3-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
☘️
Why green? Green has tradition in Ireland but an old folklore states that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns. If they can see you, they will pinch you! 
☘️
Why corned beef and cabbage?  Well, corned beef and cabbage is NOT the traditional dish in Ireland! When Irish immigrants came to America, they couldn’t afford the more traditional pork and bacon, so they used the cheapest cut of meat they could find, beef brisket. So corned beef (not in any way related to corn but is a reference to the brine) and the inexpensive vegetable, cabbage, became the celebration dish of choice. (Side note, if you are Catholic and St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent, like today, diocese will usually issue a dispensation from abstinence, which means meat can be eaten today.  So queue the corned beef!).
☘️
#funfactfriday #stpatricksday
Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrad Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrade it from a story to a post. Michelle Yeoh, 60 years old, is the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for best actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. 🏆What an inspiration! 💗 And not to be overshadowed, Jaime Lee Curtis won her first Oscar for a supporting role in the same movie. She is 64.

🌟It’s never too late!🌟

#ageisjustanumber #everythingeverywhereallatonce #michelleyeoh #jamieleecurtis #oscars #everydayroadtohealthy #healthyliving #healthylife #healthylifestyle #healthyeating #healthyhabits #selfcare #healthandwellness #healthandfitness #startwhereyouare #earthdayeveryday #healthyfood #fitness #fitnessjourney #healthjourney #fitnessmotivation #healthyrecipes #fitnessover40 #pushing50
Angela’s day in a reel - 1/21/2023 #dailyreel #e Angela’s day in a reel - 1/21/2023
#dailyreel #everydayroadtohealthy #butfirstcoffee #southblock #acaibowl #onelife #neopolitanpizza #boxerdog
Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent becaus Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent because I started the year off with a cold that left me tired and unmotivated. But I’m feeling better and starting my goal tracking a little late. I thought it would be helpful to combine all our goal trackers into one file for easy downloading and printing. The link to the all-in-one file can be found in our profile @everydayroadtohealthy ☝🏼. Swipe to see January printed at 75% and taped inside my planner. I’m hoping this works better for me this year!
💚 Start where you are. 🤎
.
#everydayroadtohealthy #healthyliving #healthylife #healthylifestyle #healthyeating #healthyhabits #selfcare #healthandwellness #healthandfitness #startwhereyouare #earthdayeveryday #healthyfood #fitness #fitnessjourney #healthjourney #fitnessmotivation #healthyrecipes #fitnessover40 #pushing50 #habittracker #goaltracker #2023goals
2022, you were filled with some great memories! I’m always sad to see another year go by. But I’m looking forward to making memories in 2023! 
.
#everydayroadtohealthy #healthyliving #healthylife #healthylifestyle #healthyeating #healthyhabits #selfcare #healthandwellness #healthandfitness #startwhereyouare #earthdayeveryday #healthyfood #fitness #fitnessjourney #healthjourney #fitnessmotivation #healthyrecipes #fitnessover40 #pushing50 #goodbye2022 #hello2023 #timeisathief #happynewyear #makingmemories
We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with t We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with the magic of the season! ❤️💚
I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas upgrade. After refrigerating for a bit, dip in some melted chocolate and add some sprinkles! 😋 Search “protein balls” at everydayroadtohealthy.com for basic recipe, then add your own holiday upgrade!
.
#everydayroadtohealthy #healthyliving #healthylife #healthylifestyle #healthyeating #healthyhabits #selfcare #healthandwellness #healthandfitness #startwhereyouare #healthyfood #healthyrecipes #fitnessover40 #pushing50 #proteinballs #proteintreats #healthyholiday #healthyholidayrecipes #healthyholidaytreats
I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the pe I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the perfect jasmine rice 🍚 including what rice cooker I use, how much I make, and an age old method for measuring the water. Search “perfect jasmine rice” at www.everydayroadtohealthy.com for all the details!🍚
.
#everydayroadtohealthy #healthyliving #healthylife #healthylifestyle #healthyeating #healthyhabits #selfcare #healthandwellness #healthandfitness #startwhereyouare #earthdayeveryday #healthyfood #fitness #fitnessjourney #healthjourney #fitnessmotivation #healthyrecipes #rice #howtomakerice #ricecooker #perfectrice #jasminerice
If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this ho If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this holiday season - Wreaths Across America is this Saturday, Dec 17th. “In many homes there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one that made the ultimate sacrifice” this holiday season. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org for more details on volunteering, donations, and locations near you.
Load More... Follow on Instagram