Red blueberries are not only very loved fruits, used in numerous recipes but which also have numerous benefits for our health. These precious berries originate in the American continent, where local populations used them to treat a series of health problems, as if to disinfect wounds.
Today the blueberries are part of the category of so -called “superfood”, thanks to the high content of antioxidants, vitamins (especially C and E), fibers and mineral salts. Their regular consumption helps to strengthen the immune system, counteract oxidative stress and support cardiovascular health.
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However, scientific studies confirm that blueberries are also useful to treat urinary tract infections or cystitis, thanks to the substances contained in them such as flavonoids, anthocyanosides, citric acid and malic acid, capable of carrying out an antibacterial action and regulating the pH of urine.
Studies
For some time, for their anti -inflammatory properties, red blueberries are also effective in the prevention of infections, in particular those of the urinary tract, a condition that mainly affects women. In fact, they provoke cystitis are bacteria, which can pass from the intestine to the urethra and then end up in the bladder, thus causing annoying infections. A study published in the medical journal Jama Internal Medicine concluded that the intake of blueberries in the form of juice or pads helps to contrast viruses and bacteria and prevent urinary tract infections, crossing the results of more previous research.
Among the most studied active ingredients we find the proantocianidine (Pacs), molecules capable of preventing pathogenic bacteria from joining the walls of the urinary tract. This mechanism makes the bacterial proliferation and the trigger of the infection more difficult. There are also flavonoids and anthocyanins, with anti -inflammatory effect, and organic acids that regulate the pH of the urine.
Another study by the Canadian Journal of Microbiology has analyzed the effects of the red blueberry extract on the neutralization of the action of the Proteus Mirabilis bacterium, known to be responsible for the urinary tract infections. McGill University researchers suggest the use of extract in the prevention of bacterial colonization in medical devices, such as catheters and tubes that transport fluids and drain the urine, which up to now have allowed bacteria to easily enter the body and infect the tissue or blood.
These evidence open interesting scenarios not only in the medical field, but also in daily prevention. Some supplements based on red blueberry are now prescribed by doctors as adjuvants in patients subject to recurrent cystitis.
Further research is naturally necessary to confirm these hypotheses, but in the meantime add the blueberries to your diet could be a wise decision, especially to get rid of unpleasant infections.
The only warning: those who take anticoagulant drugs should avoid exaggerating with consumption, because red blueberries can interfere with the effectiveness of some active ingredients, such as Warfarin. In case of doubts, better to ask your doctor for advice.
Sources: Jama / Canadian Journal of Microbiology
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