Blueberry Season is the Perfect Time to Give Your Daily Dose of Color the Blues

ADA, Mich., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueberries get a lot of good press as a "Super Fruit." But are they all style and no substance? Not according to the scientists behind NUTRILITE® nutritional supplements, exclusively from Amway. They know a thing or two about blueberries since they grow their own for use in many of their products. Amway owns Trout Lake Farm in Washington, a blueberry producer and also one of the largest certified organic herb farms in North America.

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"Blueberries are indeed worthy of their status as a nutrition powerhouse," says Keith Randolph, Ph.D., Technology Strategist for Nutrilite. "They're low in calories, high in water and fiber and their sweet flavor is just plain good."

Dr. Randolph shares more insight on exactly why blueberries, one of the only blue foods on earth, are so good for you:

Don't Let the Round Shape Fool You. Blueberries have only about 80 calories per cup and virtually no fat.

They Deserve a Cape. Blueberries are referred to as a "Super Fruit" because they are widely recognized as a fruit with a very high antioxidant activity. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which are thought to cause damage to cells and tissues during the aging process.

More Than Just a Pretty Color. Anthocyanidins, one of the many phytonutrients in blueberries, give the fruit its vibrant blue color. Eating a diet rich in a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables ensures you're getting the health benefits of phytonutrients, and blueberries are an excellent way to up your daily dose of color.

Our Daily Dose of Color Needs More Blue. A report released by the Nutrilite Health Institute last year, America's Phytonutrient Report, found that grapes were the number one food source of anthocyanidins in Americans' diet; however, a serving of blueberries provides more than three times the amount of anthocyanidins as a serving of red grapes – although red grapes are still a healthful choice.

Vitamin C isn't All Orange. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. A serving contains about 14 mg or almost 25% of the daily requirement for vitamin C, which promotes a healthy immune system and aids in the absorption of iron, among other health benefits.

Blueberries Bring the Fiber. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consuming foods high in fiber reduces cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary disease, increases healthy digestion and may help with weight management. The largest sources of fiber are whole grains and fruits and vegetables, in which the American diet is sorely lacking.

A smoothie is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to work more blueberries into your diet is a simple smoothie:

Blend milk, ice, protein powder, and yogurt until a slushy texture is formed. Add the strawberries and blueberries and blend. Blending the fruit last will keep their flavor fresh.

"Eating whole, fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible is always best," says Dr. Randolph. "When you can't incorporate the recommended servings of the real thing into your diet, a plant-based nutritional supplement may help fill the gap."

NUTRILITE supplements are made with natural plant ingredients, many grown on Amway's own certified organic farms, and can help you fill your phytonutrient gap and get your full daily dose of color.  NUTRILITE supplements that contain blueberry include:

• NUTRILITE DOUBLE X® Vitamin/Mineral/Phytonutrient, which also contains 12 essential vitamins, 10 essential minerals, and 20 plant concentrates including broccoli, cranberry, pomegranate, and more.
• NUTRILITE Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables provide an easy way to get the phytonutrient equivalent of 10+ servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

About Nutrilite

NUTRILITE, exclusively from Amway, is the world's leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements (based on 2010 sales). Amway is so committed to total quality control of its plant concentrates from seed to tablet, it offers the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms. Nutrilite farms are located in California, Washington, Mexico, and Brazil.

NUTRILITE Daily Multivitamin, Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables, and DOUBLE X Multivitamin, the brand's three most popular supplements in North America have completed NSF International's Certified for Sport™ program, which reduces the risk that a dietary or sports supplement contains banned substances.

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Anna Bryce          
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SOURCE Amway North America