Eating Blueberries Can Help Fight Belly Fat And Diabetes

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The science is well established: eating blueberries can help fight belly fat and diabetes.

This is probably due to the high level of naturally occurring antioxidants in blueberries.  Essentially this can lead to less abdominal fat, lower triglycerides, lower cholesterol, and improved fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity, all good signs for fighting diabetes.

The goal is to fight metabolic syndrome.  We have talked about it before but metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that includes too much fat around the waist, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and high triglycerides.  Together, these conditions increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.  One possible mechanism is that blueberry intake affects genes related to fat burning and storage.