Fruits and vegetables offer a multitude of colors, some of which we can perceive and others that are impossible to see for the human eye.
In their evolution, fruits and vegetables are adorned with different pigments, for several reasons, including certain environmental factors.
The adaptive meaning of fruit color has been studied for more than a century.
Although color can fulfill different functions, the most commonly tested assumption is that it has evolved to increase the visibility of fruits and thus promote their detection and consumption, since once digested fruit seeds can disperse and reproduce.
A study published in September 2018 in Scientific Reports also shows that fruit color is affected by both the sensory ecology of animals and abiotic factors.
Abiotic factors correspond to all the physicochemical factors of an ecosystem having an influence on the living beings of a given biotope. This can be summed up by an action of the non-living on the living.
The color of fruits and vegetables is therefore of great interest and can inform us about the qualities and benefits.
In a new study published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A on February 16, 2019, researchers reveal that blueberries and blueberries can help lower blood pressure.
Researchers say that daily consumption of 200 g of blueberries for one month can lead to improved blood vessel function and a decrease in systolic blood pressure in healthy people.
THE BENEFITS OF MYRTILLES FOR ARTERIAL PRESSURE
Researchers from King's College in London, UK, studied 40 healthy volunteers for a month. They were given randomly either a beverage containing 200 g of blueberries or a daily drink.
The team observed the chemicals in the blood and urine of the volunteers, as well as their arterial blood pressure and brachial artery dilation induced by blood flow. This corresponds to the measurement of dilatation of the artery when the blood flow increases, which is considered a sensitive biomarker of the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The new findings complement a previous study that compared the effects of a blueberry beverage to purified anthocyanin, a type of photochemical responsible for the blue, red, pink and purple color of certain fruits and vegetables such as berries, red grapes, eggplant, beetroot, or red cabbage.
On the other hand, the authors also compared this with control drinks containing similar levels of fiber, minerals or vitamins found in blueberries and blueberries.
MYRTILLE IS A SUPER FRUIT
The researchers show in their conclusion several new important points about the benefits of blueberries and blueberries.
Blueberries reveal effects on the function of blood vessels.
The authors were observed effects two hours after the consumption of the blueberry drinks that have been maintained for a month, even after a night fast.
During the month, participants' blood pressure was reduced by 5 mmHg (millimeter of mercury).
This effect of blueberries is similar to what is commonly seen in studies using hypotensive drugs.
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On the other hand, beverages containing purified anthocyanins resulted in improved endothelial function.
Endothelial cells act as a barrier between blood or lymph and surrounding body tissue, while playing a key role in blood clotting and blood pressure regulation.
Finally, the researchers conclude by explaining that "even if it is better to eat blueberry and blueberry whole to get the most out of it, our study shows that anthocyanins can account for most of the effects. "
In addition, they say, "If the changes we've seen in blood vessel function after eating blueberries every day can last a lifetime, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease could be reduced by 20%. "
SOURCES EXTERNES
- « Circulating anthocyanin metabolites mediate vascular benefits of blueberries: insights from randomized controlled trials, metabolomics, and nutrigenomics. », The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz047
- « The ‘blue’ in blueberries can help lower blood pressure », 20 février 2019, https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/News-Article.aspx?id=af4e7b3e-2c7d-4d8f-ae9e-fe6d1014d0eb
- « The evolution of fruit colour: phylogeny, abiotic factors and the role of mutualists », Scientific Reportsvolume 8, Article number: 14302 (2018), https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32604-x