During the summer, black bears in the forest spend all their time eating everything they can sink their teeth into. And when the winter comes they look for a place to curl up and go to sleep till the weather turns hot.
Now, the habits of bears might not seem like something you should try to imitate. After all, doctors are always making us sure not to overeat, not to spend all of our time lying around, doing nothing. But there is one of the habits of black bears that we should actually try to go after, because it would be good for our health.
Black bears are in a habit to eat a lot of berries, of many different varieties, such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Berries contain natural sugars and fantastic flavors. Unlike many other foods that are really good for you, but which don't taste good, berries taste great. And unlike many foods that taste fine but which aren't health friendly for you, berries are wonderful in both ways.
According to a new study, berries can bring a positive impact on blood pressure, cholesterol level and blood clotting. The Finnish researchers have suggested that twice-daily servings of berries could boost heart health.
The National Public Health Institute in Helsinki found that eating different types of berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries increased the level of good cholesterol in the body - providing added protection to the heart by five per cent.
Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the report of the researchers says: 'A one percent decrease in heart attacks and strokes is seen for each one percent increase in HDL (high-density lipoproteins) cholesterol, so a five percent increase is meaningful'.
The researchers went on to write that when the Finnish population began to increase their intake of berries from 1969, there was a 75 per cent drop in death rates caused by heart diseases.
Berries: Full of Antioxidants
Berries contain high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols. The researchers estimate that the berry eaters in the study consumed about three times the amount of polyphenols as the nonberry eaters and had higher levels of polyphenols in their blood. Other polyphenol-rich foods include chocolate, tea, and red wine, which also have been linked to lower heart disease risk.
The compounds that give ripe berries their attractive colors are the very substances that have such strong anti-oxidant powers. And antioxidants are compounds that help repair some of the damage that happens to our body cells every day.
Researchers have discovered that the darker the berry, the more health benefits it has! Eating two-thirds of a cup of blueberries will give you as much anti-oxidant protection as five servings of apples or squash. The dark pigments in these berries seem to offer protection against
cardiovascular disease, degenerative eye disease such as cataracts, and may offer some help in preventing some cancers, and bladder infections.
You can get this wonderful antioxidant protection whether you eat your berries fresh, frozen, or dried. You can consume berries raw, add them to your favorite cereals, or make a smoothie drink with various berries, fruits, milk and yoghurt. Get creative and find ways to mix berries into your favorite recipes.
Where you may get berries?
In North America, blueberries are found fresh or frozen year round. If you can't get fresh berries, dried berries are also filled with very concentrated levels of the valuable antioxidants.
If you live in a place where blueberries are not easily available, look for other fruits and berries that have very dark red or dark purple colors. Foods such as pomegranates, bilberries, cherries, black raspberries, saskatoons or serviceberries also have high levels of these very beneficial dark pigments. These foods offer benefits similar to the benefits of blueberries.
So, be serious to follow at least one habit of bears into your lifestyle - and make berries your everyday diet!
