Blueberries may be useful in busting belly fat.
A new study showed that rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat linked to heart disease and diabetes. They experienced other health benefits like lower cholestrerol and improved glucose control even if they were on a high -fat diet.
The scientists, who presented the study at Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans last week, said the results suggested that antioxidant-rich blueberries may change how the body stores and processes glucose or sugar for energy and can perhaps reduce the risk of both heart disease and diabetes.
"The naturally occurring chemicals in blueberries, such as anthocynains, show promise in mitigating these health conditions," researcher Steven Bolling, of the University of Michigan, said
The rats in the 90-day study, which were fed a low fat diet enriched with whole blueberry powder as 2 percent of their total diet, had less abdominal fat, lower cholesterol and improved glucose control and insulin sensitivity. The latter 2 factors are markers of how well the body processes sugar for energy and are related to risk of diabetes.
The scientists said more research was needed to confirm these result in humans.
Source : Straits Times, Mind Your Body
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