Berry Be Good

Every good diet should include lots of fruits. The Fiber Diet is no exemption from this rule and actually uses a lot of fruits to increase the amount of fiber of your daily intake. Berries are a great source of fiber. They do not only contain fiber, but they also contain nutrients that help to fight certain diseases. Colorful berries like blueberries and blackberries are full of phytonutrients (especially the skin of smaller blueberries) which contains powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are also called anthocyanins and cancer fighters. Blueberries are a great example that color "rulez": the darker the color, the better (healthier) the berry. Blueberries are high in the soluble fiber. One cup of Blueberries has about 4 grams of dietary fiber.

Blueberries have the highest antioxidant concentration due to the high level of anthocyanins in the blueberry's skin. Bilberries have anthocyanins in the flesh as well as in their skin. But buyer beware - not all blueberries are created equal. The smaller, wild blueberries have actually more skin and less water than the artificially cultivated blueberries. Because most of the health-promoting pigment is in the skin, the smaller the berry, the more anthocyanins. As a rule of thumb - when it comes to these blue-ish benefits, bigger is not better.

Blueberries can be mixed into many recipes. Blueberries are a great add-on in pancakes, muffins, breakfast cereal, taste great blended into smoothies and shakes.

Here are a few quick and easy serving ideas:
Add frozen blueberries to your breakfast shake. It's colorful and refreshing. Fresh or dried blueberries add great taste to cold breakfast cereals. Blueberry pie, cobbler and muffins are all-time favorites that can be enjoyed throughout the entire year. There is no need for a holiday or a specific season to start eating Blueberries.