Saturday, June 18, 2011

How Many Calories in Blueberries

How many calories in blueberries? Blueberries belong to the same family as bilberries and cranberries. They are very nutritious, but they are low in calories, which makes them great for any diet. Many deserts are made with blueberries. They are not only delicious – they are also very decorative. However, the best way to consume blueberries is to eat them fresh. If you are on a weight loss diet, blueberries are the right choice.

Blueberries are great source of antioxidants. They are rich in vitamin C, which has a role in immune system strengthening. Blueberries are helpful in regulating the cholesterol levels in blood. Blueberries are also rich in fiber, which makes them helpful in relieving constipation or diarrhea. According to some studies, blueberries can help you improve your vision. They are also rich in manganese, which is important for bones. Blueberries are believed to have relaxing qualities, so if you are stressed, eat some blueberries to relieve the symptoms of stress.

Here you can see the number of calories in blueberries.

- A cup of fresh blueberries has nearly 85 calories.

- A cup of frozen blueberries has nearly 78 calories.

- One cup of sweetened frozen blueberries has 185 calories.

- Canned blueberries (with syrup) have nearly 215 calories.

- One cup of dried, sweetened blueberries has nearly 550 calories.

You can see that dried blueberries have many calories. The reason for this is that dried blueberries are sweetened in order to prevent clumping. Sugar is known to be a preservative and it is added to many types of dried fruits. Fresh blueberries are much healthier than dried or canned blueberries.

If you are on a diet, use blueberries instead of sweet snacks. You can make great milkshakes using fresh blueberries. You can mix them with yogurt, too. If you like very sweet deserts, you can add some honey or brown sugar. Blueberries can be combined with other fruits – you can combine them with any fruits you like, depending on your taste. Add some cream to decorate your fruit salad.

Blueberries can be used for ice creams and puddings. If you want to decorate your cakes, you can add some natural blueberry syrup to the cream. You will love the color! Your kids will love blueberry ice cream and it is best to make it yourself. That way, you will add as much blueberries as you like and your ice cream will be healthier. Blueberries are available in supermarkets during the whole year, so you won’t have any problems finding them.