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Regular consumption of blueberries has been found to be immensely beneficial in maintaining lifelong health. In fact, it wouldn’t be going overboard to say that anyone who wants to maintain their health naturally should eat blueberries regularly. This is because they’re low in calories, yet they have a huge antioxidant effect on the body that promotes good health, staves off aging and is even believed to have a role in cancer prevention. They also provide plenty of dietary fiber, manganese, and vitamins  E and C, all of which are essential to general wellness.

And what better way to get the benefits of blueberries than to grow your own blueberry bushes at home? That will not only save you money, but it also guarantees that the fruit will be fresher than store-bought and free of pesticides and fertilizers.

Most people don’t know that there are actually many different types of blueberries. Some are tiny, while others are considered to be giant-sized (little giant blueberries). Some blueberry bushes grow more easily in cold climates, while others do better in warmer climates. Below is just a handful of the different types of blueberries that you might want to consider for your own garden:

Barkley
One of the most popular types of blueberry plants is the Barkley. The blueberries produced by this plant are known for being large and sweet, and providing an excellent mid-season harvest.

Bluecrop
Bluecrop blueberries are a light blue and are quite large. They’re sometimes referred to as “giant blueberries” due to their size. They’re the leading variety used on commercial farms and are known to be fairly easy to grow.

Blueray
The Blueray bush is also known for its light blue color and large size. Bluerays are one of the most popular at-home blueberry bushes and are very popular throughout the Northeast and Midwest.

Collins
Collins bushes are another popular type of blueberry bush, and unlike the others mentioned above, they’re known for producing medium-sized berries. They’re also more more low-maintenance and firm and have a very sweet flavor.

Coville
Coville blueberries have a light blue color and are available later in the season. Like the Collins, they’re medium-sized. If you want blueberries all season long it’s a good idea to have a variety of early- to mid-season bushes, plus some Covilles. That will give you blueberries once your other bushes have passed their harvest season.

Earlyblues
The name says it all with the Earlyblues blueberries: they produce early in the season. They’re also light blue in color, sweet in taste and are often used for blueberry pies.

We’ve merely skimmed the surface here by discussing only six of the more popular types of blueberries. If you decide to grow your own, you should definitely research the different types and how to grow them, and then choose one or more that’s known for growing well in your region.

Regardless of which type you choose to grow, you should be consuming blueberries on a regular basis. Their nutritional qualities are so great and they taste so good that you can’t afford not to eat them!

If you’re looking for ways to incorporate blueberries into your diet, try these easy healthy blueberry recipes. You might also be interested in our other healthy recipes:

• Asparagus Recipes
• Broccoli Recipes
• Garlic Recipes with Antiviral Power
• Pasta Recipes to Boost Your Immune System
• Recipes to Control Blood Sugar
• Recipes to Help Your Vision
• Recipes to Keep Anemia at Bay

Good nutrition plays a crucial role in cancer prevention. Though cancerous mesothelioma is not caused by bad nutrition, improving nutritional with a cancer diet rich in antioxidants can allow asbestosis mesothelioma patients to better fight the cancer, as well as ease symptoms and treat side effects.

Although a few other causes of malignant mesothelioma have been determined, the primary cause is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in a number of military and industrial applications throughout the 20th century. Symptoms don’t usually become noticeable until as long as 50 years after primary exposure. Unfortunately, the cancer is typically diagnosed in later stages when treatment options are limited.

One of the most frequent side effects of mesothelioma and cancer treatment is nausea. There are a number of nutritional changes that can be made to help this problem. Dry foods such as crackers and toast can calm an upset stomach and bland foods help with nausea and acid reflux problems. Dark green leafy vegetables can also be beneficial when treating mesothelioma, because they’re rich with essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help fight cancer. Dark leafy greens contain antioxidants and phytochemicals, which are powerful enzymes that help clean the body of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) and block enzymes known to activate carcinogens.

Mesothelioma patients can also benefit from the cancer-fighting nutrients found in berries. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries and loganberries are known to contain cancer-fighting phytonutrients, such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, pterostilbene and resveratrol. In fact, extracts of six types of berries were tested in one laboratory study to determine whether they could prevent the growth and proliferation of different types of cancer cells. Each berry type was found to have unique phytonutrient combinations and extracts of all of them killed cancer cells.

Also, garlic produces a chemical called allicin which can be beneficial for mesothelioma patients. Garlic appears to have the greatest affect on stomach cancer and prostate cancer in men, but affects have been noted in all types of cancer and on different carcinogens.

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Blueberries are a good source of fiber and vitamin C, but this little blue fruit’s main claim to fame is its antioxidant activity. Why is this important? Because antioxidants neutralize free radicals — those unstable oxygen molecules that attack your body and place you at risk for cancer, heart disease and premature aging. Blueberries are actually ranked No. 1 among common fruits and vegetables in antioxidant power. Acai and Goji berries are the only other fruits that rank higher, but they’re more exotic — and more expensive.

Try these quick and easy blueberry dessert recipes. They’re great ways to get your antioxidants.

Blueberry Crumble
Makes 4 to 6 servings

• 4 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup flour (preferably whole wheat, or try one of the gluten-free varieties)
• 3/4 cup uncooked oats
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

1. Spread blueberries in a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Combine the remaining ingredients and sprinkle over blueberries.
3. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Berry Treasure
Makes 4 servings

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 (6 oz.) can frozen grape juice concentrate, undiluted
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

1. Combine grape juice concentrate, water and tapioca in a saucepan and let them stand in for 5 minutes.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
3. Simmer slowly, stirring often, until tapioca is clear and juice is thickened.
4. Remove from heat; add lemon juice and stir. Incorporate the blueberries once the mixture has cooled a little.

You can also add other fruit, such as bananas and raspberries, which can either be stirred in or layered.

Photo by Chrissi Nerantzi

You might also be interested in these other healthy recipes:

• Asparagus Recipes
• Beet Juice Recipes
• Broccoli Recipes
• Garlic Recipes with Antiviral Power
• Pasta Recipes to Boost Your Immune System
• Recipes to Control Blood Sugar
• Recipes to Help Your Vision
• Recipes to Keep Anemia at Bay