Blueberries

Sweet, juicy and boldly colored plump little fruits, blueberries are popular among berries and fruits in general. Berries, generally, score a 93 out of 100 in Dr. T.C. Fry’s “A General Guide to Food Selection.”

Blueberries are in peak season from June through August. A cup of blueberries weighs 148 grams.

Blueberries come from the family of Ericaceae, of the genus Vaccinium. Blueberries are classified as either high-bush or low-bush blueberries. High-bush blueberries grow on shrubs as high as 10 to 12 feet tall. Low-bush blueberries grow on plants 1 to 2 feet in height. A third kind, rabbiteye blueberries, grow on medium-size shrubs.

Blueberries are a rich source of Vitamin K and a range of antioxidants such as lutein. They contain 84 percent water by weight.

High-bush blueberries are grown in British Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington. Michigan is the leader in production of high-bush blueberries. Maine produces a quarter of all low-bush blueberries. High-bush blueberries are also grown in such European countries as Estonia, Germany, Poland and Romania. Blueberries are also grown in Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and South America.

Stats for 100 Grams of Blueberries, Raw

• 57 calories

Notable Nutrients

Percentages based on the Reference Daily Intake for a 2,000-calorie diet

• Fiber: 9.6%
• Vitamin C: 16.2%
• Vitamin K: 24.1%
• Manganese: 16.8%

Carbs/Protein/Fat

• Carbohydrates: 90.9%
• Protein: 4.3%
• Fat: 4.8%

Food Type

• Subacid fruit

Sources

• Self Healing Colitis & Crohn’s by Dr. David Klein
• http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2215
• http://www.cronometer.com
• http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/blueberries.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueberry