Blueberries - The Kings of Antioxidants

Our blueberries, or as we like to call them, our antioxidant kings , are fruits with several beneficial properties for our body. They are small fruits with a five-pointed star on top, they have a firm skin with an aromatic, juicy pulp, and a sweet and sour flavor.

Blueberries are a fruit that is more common in northern Europe than in the south, and blueberry cultivation was introduced to Portugal in the 1990s. The first blueberry plantations appeared in the municipality of Sever do Vouga, and the fruit has become a food product that has become increasingly important over the years, with 95% of production being exported. One of the competitive advantages of the blueberry market in Portugal is related to the status of the fruit in the European market. Blueberry production in Portugal is included in production during the months of May/June each year, i.e., it is a production that is ahead of other competitors in the European domestic market.

But why are these little berries so brilliant? Let's take it one step at a time.

Blueberries are considered the kings of antioxidants and why?

They are the fruits with the highest antioxidant capacity of all fruits and vegetables. In other words, eating blueberries enables our body to fight powerfully against free radicals. High levels of free radicals are linked to diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular problems.

In addition to containing an important chemical for burning saturated fats, resveratrol, blueberries are low in calories and highly nutritious. They are also rich in vitamins B and C, and manganese. They are also high in iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, copper and folic acid. They are foods rich in fiber and have anti-inflammatory effects.

Blueberries can fight bad cholesterol (LDL) and protect good cholesterol (HDL). Thanks to their antioxidant properties, blueberries reduce LDL oxidation levels, which helps keep your heart healthy. In addition, blueberries can help lower blood pressure, thus preventing heart disease.

Oxidative stress can have an accelerating effect on brain aging, and this is where the antioxidant superpowers of blueberries can come in, improving neuron aging and improving mental function.

We cannot forget that these magical blue berries can have effects in the fight against diabetes. They contain substances that appear to help with glucose processing and insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

These are several reasons that we think are important to let you know about eating blueberries.

But where do our blueberries come from, anyway?

Jorge is our blueberry farmer. He worked for many years in Angola and in 2020 he started a new life away from finance. His first crop was around 220 tons, the largest production on his farm. Part of Jorge’s production has been channeled to Equal Food, due to defects in the size and shape of his blueberries. Jorge’s blueberries are sweet and tasty, and our mission is to continue to help Jorge with his production with your help, while together we fight against food waste.

And how can you consume these small fruits?

On our website you can find different recipes such as Blueberry Muffins , but if you don't want to go to all that trouble there are always simple options. Just wash the blue berries and eat them raw, or add them to yogurt, ice cream, with desserts, or in waffles and pancakes.

We would also like to remind you of the best parts of these fruits. Our blueberries are (im)perfect, because they do not meet the market's demands, which are governed by excessively rigid beauty standards that do not allow them to be sold in traditional markets. In addition, we want to support the surplus production of our Jorge, whose production cannot be sold in the conventional market.

Regardless of the harvest context of our fruits, our blueberries maintain their antioxidant power. At Equal Food we want to bring you our blueberries at a lower price, fighting together against food waste of tons of surplus blueberries that would end up being wasted without the help of all of us.

Blueberries are small and easy to eat, without the need to cut or peel them. Along with their nutritional characteristics, blueberries can be considered an incredible fruit for the lazy ones, always delicious and healthy.