i don't know how i became obsessed with them... they were hardly available when i was a wee lassie in singapore... but given how wonderfully rich in anti-oxidants and how lovely they taste... and how beautifully blue they are, who really cares?
blueberries are my all-time favourite of all berries... i don't care much for strawberries, nor raspberries nor blackberries, or gooseberries... but the blues...
according to my new "fresh" food magazine, which i picked up by chance when i tried to get some change to buy some stamps from the automated machine, blueberries rank top in their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity among fruits and veggies, i.e. super high in anti-oxidants... these molecules help neutralise free-radicals (chemicals that often lead to cell-degeneration when found in access... and this process, termed as oxidative stress, is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's).
i was also amazed to find out that these little berries are good for you in more than one great way! apart from the protective influence of the variety of anti-oxidants that 1) help strengthen collagen, 2) help improve vision (via increased production of retinal -- the precursor to visual pigment; by filtering harmful ultra-violet light via carotenoid-induced pigment growth in the lens and macular of the eye) and 3) help in preventing the formation of leaky capillaries, blueberries are also found to be both anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting.
thus, they are not only great for keeping you looking younger, helping you keep your vision clearer, they also help improve your blood circulation and help reduce your risk of having cardiovascular problems. and as if that weren't good enough, they also have naturally occuring acids that appear to help prevent cervical cancer and protect the womb... and have i already mentioned that they are also said to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties?
my golly... i will never run out of reasons to gobble them now! heee.
and to indulge in my blueberry-lust... i baked a lovely blueberry tart from the blueberry bliss i brought home (and froze) the other day... and i dedicate this to stella who requested it but i am unable to ship it to HK before it all disappeared! ooops.
hahaha i can *so* see you as a lecturer already! your write up of blueberries make me crave some as well... where's my pie, girl??
Posted by: stel on Wednesday, 15 June, 2005 at 14:33 hrsoh dear... lots of gobbledygook up there... hope i made some sense! not entirely sure if being a lecturer is what i will do...
and ooops... i gobbled the pie up! will post a recipe soon so you can make one too.. hee...
Posted by: overacuppa on Wednesday, 15 June, 2005 at 16:18 hrsYes, i love blueberries too!!! Unfortunately, they're so pricey in Singapore!
Posted by: dsd on Thursday, 16 June, 2005 at 01:54 hrsHa ha ha. tiggie, sometimes you can be so cheeky! But the pie looks really yum! Drrrroooool!
Posted by: fatgirl on Thursday, 16 June, 2005 at 17:25 hrsheee... blueberry-lovers unite! yes dsd... they are sold at an exorbitant price yonder... but i've noticed that it isn't as unaffordable as it used to be. the best place to indulge in blueberries is in europe... i heard that there are lots of blueberries in usa too, apparently... and big brown bears love them too... hmmm. but i won't want to fight with a bear over my beloved blueberry.
fatgirl! hahhaha... i am glad you are tempted by the pie... i aspire to be even cheekier... i think it's good for the soul... haha.
Posted by: overacuppa on Thursday, 16 June, 2005 at 21:05 hrs*Note: in case you were thinking of leaving a comment and the option isn't here anymore... it is because the comment section of each entry is closed after sometime to prevent malicious comments... if you are looking for the actual entry, type in the keyword(s) in the little box on the main page http://overacuppa.com where it says "fossicking pebbles & seashells" and press *search*... thank you for popping by and happy browsing!
