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Blueberries Help Prevent CancerSeveral nutrients in blueberries help to fight and prevent cancer. Two of these nutrients are anthocyanins and ellagic acid. Cancer is caused when cells are attacked by free radicals causing oxidative damage. Antioxidants fight against these free radicals. A recent study was posted on the Agriculture Research Service site which shows that antioxidants play a major role in the prevention of cancer. This study tested the anti-cancer activity of wild strawberries. The antioxidants from the strawberries were tested on human lung cancer cells. The study showed that the antioxidants stopped the free radical damage that causes cancer. Blueberries are even better than the strawberries which were used in the study. Blueberries have been ranked number one in antioxidant powers by researchers. A 2004 USDA publication confirmed that a serving of wild blueberries was number one in antioxidant capacity.
Anthocyanins are the antioxidants in blueberries which give them their amazing natural color. Not only does it provide color, but this is one source of cancer fighting power in blueberries. Anthocyanins are powerful at fighting free radicals and stopping them from causing damage.
Blueberries contain another powerful antioxidant called ellagic acid. This is another amazing nutrient in fighting cancer. Ellagic acid can work as an antioxidant and has been found to kill cancer cells in lab tests. This stops the growth of cancerous tumors. Research also show that ellagic acid helps the liver in removing cancer cells from the blood. Blueberries contain very high levels of both of these cancer fighting nutrients. Return from Prevent Cancer to Health Benefits of Blueberries
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