In the News: Blueberries protect against colon cancer
Blueberries could help prevent one of the most common cancers, a study has found. The berries — already hailed as an anti-ageing ‘superfood’ — contain a compound called a preventative pigment with fewer side effects than commercial preparations.
A U.S. study is the first to show the cancer-fighting potential of pterostilbene — one of the antioxidants in blueberries. It is found in the pigment that gives blueberries their colour and the darker the berry, the higher the concentration of antioxidants.
The findings of the study were released at the March 2007 American Chemical Society meeting in Washington by scientists at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bowel cancer affects around 34,000 Britons each year. Blueberries have also been found to improve short-term memory loss and enhance balance and co-ordination.