Color me blue!

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So if eating lots of carrots can change the color of your skin tone to a orange-yellow glow.  What will eating lots of blueberries do?

Don't worry, the answer is NOT make you a smurf.



When I first starting eating fruits and vegetables to replenish my nutrient store, I did notice a definite difference.  In looking back at before pictures, I can see that I was a grey, sickly color.  Studies have shown that after increasing produce intake for 6 weeks, there was a notable difference in skin color. Due to the beta-carotene (yellow) and lycopene (red) in fruits and vegetables that give them their color, they also had a similiar effect on skin tone, which further supports the old claim - you are what you eat! 

Blueberries are full of antioxidants which fight free-radicals that damage cells.  So though they don't contribute to the color of your skin (phew!)  they do speed up skin cell production, which can contribute to that healthy glow we all look to have.  Blueberries also have phytonutrients that are anti-inflammatory which increase your bodies ability to self heal and boost your immunity.  Net result? If your insides are healthy, your skin is healthy as a result.

I call these babies my skinny berries.  I knew that I felt better when I was eating them regularly.  But now I understand why!  A reduction in inflammation makes for an overall good feeling!

There are other fruits and veggies hailed for their anti-inflammatory properties, but blueberry is considered king. Some of my favorites from the list?

• Broccoli
• Green Tea
• Sweet Potato
• Shiitake Mushrooms
• Kelp

But today is about the king.  Since I had 10 lbs to work through to celebrate blueberry month, I have been busy cooking with and eating blueberries.  Some of this past week's lovelies:

Mama Pea's Blueberry Crisp was a great treat we enjoyed out on the deck one evening with a cup of coffee, oh ... and there may have been some vanilla bean ice cream involved too.

Fat Free Vegan's Blueberry Vinaigrette inspired this blend.

And Not Quite Martha's Blueberry and Feta Salad inspired my own Summer Chop Salad with Avocado - yum!

Oh She Glows Berry Bliss Oat Squares were a delicious guilt free treat!

Of course, the simplest way to enjoy blueberries in season is to top some of your favorite items with them - fresh.  No recipe needed!

Hmm...all this blue is inspiring in me in other areas.  Oh, and this little guy:

How do you not melt with those baby blues looking up at you?  I will call him Elton, and he will be my inspiration for our master bath which is desperately in need of some character.

Blue!!

Have a great weekend! Hope you are enjoying blueberry season as much as I am.

Skinny berries!

Hope you all enjoyed a great 4th of July!  Besides fireworks, what gets me excited at this time of the year is blueberries!  It's National Blueberry Month!!

Each year I pre-order blueberries from a local farm that actually grows strawberries.  They exchange strawberries with a Michigan blueberry grower so that we can enjoy the best of both worlds.  These blueberries are hands down the best I have ever had.  Once I had these plump and juicy berries, blueberries from the grocery store are a big disappointment.

Blueberries are a recent love for me.  About 3 years ago I started drinking smoothies when I ran into my health problems.  With depleted vitamin stores and the negative consequences on my body,  I needed some restoring!

I read that blueberries had superstar antioxidants which combat free radicals that damage the structure of your cells.  Blueberries, along with iron rich spinach, bananas for potassium and almond milk became my staple smoothie for months. 

Check out these nutrition stats!: 

Nutrients in
Blueberries
1.00 cup (148.00 grams)

Nutrient

%Daily Value

vitamin K35.7%
manganese25%
vitamin C23.9%
fiber14.2%
Calories (84)4%
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They did the job.  The benefits of the blue/green smoothie - amazing.  Low cal and filling, they are my skinny berries! When I am drinking smoothies, and snacking on these lovelies regularly I am losing weight.  Fact!

There are a lot of other ways to enjoy blueberries of course, and seeing how I am currently surrounded by 40 lbs of berries (did I go too far?), I will be scouring foodie blogs to find some fun new ways to experiment! 


So in the tradition of Benjamin Buford Blue, some blueberry recipes on my radar:

• Greek yogurt blueberry muffins from No sugar sweet life
• Blueberry crisp from Mama Pea
• Blueberry Vinaigrette over at Fat Free Vegan
• Berry Bliss Oat Squares an adapted version of FFV's recipe by Oh She Glows - very berry!
• Blueberry and Feta Salad over at We Are not Martha
• Blueberry Ginger Ice Cream from Choosing Raw

The possibilities are endless!  In the meantime, I am keeping it simple and clean! Blueberries, CHO and granola - yum!

Have a phenomenal blueberry recipe? Share! Tell me about it!