Blueberries are often labeled a superfood, and for good reason! At our SoLé Soups studios in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks we love providing the kind of lunch that makes you feel as good as it tastes, so we try to pack as many superfoods into our dishes as possible.

Blueberries are a true native American fruit, and they can often be found growing naturally all the way from Mexico to the northern most parts of Maine. They’re versatile, they’re easy to come by, and some of the ways blueberries are good for you are:

  • Low in calories, high in the good stuff – If you want a tasty snack that’s completely guilt-free, grab a handful of blueberries! They’re one of the most nutrient dense berries out there with 4 grams of fiber, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 24% RDI of Vitamin C, 36% RDI of Vitamin K, and 25% RDI of Manganese while containing just 84 calories per cup.
  • Power packed with antioxidants – Blueberries are also a super-antioxidant food. Antioxidants help to protect cell damage throughout the body from free radicals, and blueberries are thought to have one of the highest antioxidant counts of all fruits and vegetables. Eating blueberries has even been shown to directly increase antioxidant levels in the body.
  • Helps to protect cholesterol in the blood – Cholesterol isn’t always bad, even when we’re talking about the “bad” cholesterol known as LDL. It’s well known that LDL cholesterol is a contributor to heart disease, but a critical step in this process is the oxidation of that cholesterol. The antioxidants and nutrients in blueberries have been shown to reduce levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol in the blood.
  • They could help you recover faster after that gym session – If you’re really nailing it in the gym, chances are you’re going to be feeling it later! Rigorous exercise leads to muscle soreness and fatigue, which can really make it hard to get back to it the following day. This may lead to exercise slumps, or it can put people off from exercise altogether. A lunch with a handful of blueberries on the side could help. Blueberries may be able to help curb inflammation and oxidative stress on the muscles, leaving you feeling less sore. If you’re looking for the perfect post-workout, blueberries could be it.