Lower the risk of heart Disease by Eating Berries

Fruit berry is one of the antioxidant-rich foods are often recommended to be consumed daily. Now, researchers found one more benefits of this fruit, that is, women who eat berries will reduce the risk of heart disease.

As reported by My Health News Daily (14/01), the content of the berries is a nutrient called anthocyanins that act lowers the risk of heart disease in women. These compounds are found in a particular type of strawberry berries and blueberries.

Anthocyanins also is said to dilate the blood vessels and prevent clogged arteries, according to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Previously, there are also studies that found a link between the consumption of blueberries and a decrease in blood pressure - a factor of a heart attack.

"In addition to strawberries and blueberries, anthocyanins are also found in blackberries, eggplant, and wine," researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Parties to the American Heart Association (AHA) also said that the food consumed should be able to meet the required nutrients. While the berries are one food that balances the body's nutritional needs.

The study involved 93,600 American women aged 25-42 years. They were asked to answer questions about diet every four years for 18 years. During the study, there are about 405 of them are heart disease.

Researchers then examined factors of heart disease, such as blood pressure, BMI (body mass index), exercise, smoking and drinking alcohol.

Meanwhile, Dr Andrew Freeman of the National Jewish Health Center in Denver contributed to the research. Although he was not involved in the study, but Dr Freeman believes consumption of anthocyanins is maintaining overall body health. So the risk of heart disease decreases.

To control the risk of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Freeman also suggested that people eat more foods from plants.