Harvard study; berries show heart boosting power for women and may cut heart attack risk

Harvard study; berries show heart boosting power for women and may cut heart attack risk

Harvard researchers in conjunction with researchers from the University of East Anglia in the UK crunched data collected from 93,600 women participating in the Nurses Health Study II. Women with the highest consumption of blueberries and strawberries, three or more times per week, saw their risk of heart attack drop one-third compared to eating berries once a month or less, even compared to women who otherwise ate a diet rich in other fruits and vegetables. The researchers contributed the benefits to the Anthocyanin content of the berries; a family of polyphenols. The berry polyphenols helped dilate blood vessels for improved blood flow (this helps prevent high blood pressure) and countered the build up of plaque in the women’s arteries. The data was gathered from 93,600 women taking part in the Nurses health Study II. The study results were published October 29^th, 2013 in Circulation: Journal of the American heart Association.