Super foods: facts & fiction

Blueberries

[Photo by Pauline D. Loh/China Daily]

When it comes to antioxidants, few come close to the blueberry. The fruit has long been recognized for its flavor, nutrition and health benefits and they are packed with antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals that can lead to cancer and other debilitating age-related symptoms. Blueberries have twice the number of antioxidants that spinach has, and it is also rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that is effective in lowering cholesterol. Fresh blueberries are higher in vitamins A and C than frozen or canned. Many provinces in China now grow blueberries commercially, especially in the northeast.