Are Cooked Blueberries Healthy?

I'm a big fan of blueberries (and all berries, for that matter). They're delicious and pack a powerful antioxidant punch: you would have to eat five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli to get the antioxidants contained in one half cup of blueberries.

Anthocyanins, the pigments that make blueberries blue, are the antioxidant compounds responsible for their health benefits. These delicious berries are also a good source of fiber - a half-cup serving gives you almost three grams. What's more, blueberries are a healthy low-glycemic-load carbohydrate, a good source of both vitamin C and ellagic acid, a natural compound that inhibits tumor growth in laboratory mice. And, like cranberries, blueberries contain a substance that can help prevent urinary tract infections by interfering with the attachment of bacteria to the bladder wall. Fresh, frozen and dried blueberries are all equally beneficial and heating or cooking blueberries won't affect the amount or quality of antioxidants they contain. Read more