Small colored berries looking so attractive, so rich in beneficial substances so effective and tasty that they were one of the first fruits to be considered a "superfood".

There are 130 species but the best known are the blackberries, the blueberries and cranberries. All have in common a concentration of antioxidants, useful against skin aging and for the prevention and fight against the most important chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular inflammations or tumors. The main antioxidant compound in these berries in fact comes from a family of polyphenols, called flavonoids. A group of flavonoids in particular, anthocyanins, is responsible for most of its benefits.

When I see baskets full of blueberries at the market I just can not resist! Eating them naturally, added to the cornflakes for breakfast or putting them in the juicer along with pomegranate arils to get a tasty smoothie of a brilliant bordeux color. When I have time I use blueberries to cooke muffins and have an American breakfast. When I go in a hurry, I consume them as juice! Pure without additives and always organic.

I must confess that a long time ago I made use of blueberry supplements, because they were more practical to consume and I was convinced they were more effective. I thought: "Supplements" = more concentrated active ingredients!

I took them mainly to help the microcirculation and balance the intestinal microflora.

But since I read a Research of Altroconsumo (an Italian association for the consumer defense) of 2011 year on blueberry supplements, I changed my mind. These supplements sold at high price promise great benefits for the eyesight and blood circulation thanks to the amazing antioxidant properties of the anthocyanins. But the level of anthocyanins found in the Research and tests by Altroconsumption on the supplements, ranged from 2 to 72 mg per dose while in 100% fruit juices the value ranged from 105 mg to 139 mg per glass. An amount similar to the level of antioxidants present in medicines based on blueberry.

The observation would therefore seem to confirm what doctors and nutritionists keep on repeating: antioxidants are effective if consumed within their "natural environment" that is fruit and vegetables whole or squeezed.

What can I say .. how much money I threw in pills that barely reach half of the anthocyanins contained in blueberry juice, which, however, have a much lower cost and give great pleasure in drinking it!