(CBS) - A new study shows adding some berries to your diet could help lower your chances of having a heart attack.
Harvard researchers followed about 100,000 women for nearly 20 years and found those who ate several servings of blueberries and strawberries every week lowered their chances of a heart attack by 32 percent.
Blueberries and strawberries have high levels of a natural compound called flavonoids.. which can also be found in grapes and wine, eggplant and other fruits and vegetables.
Flavonoids help dilate the arteries and reduce inflammation in the arteries, therefore reducing heart attack rates.
The researchers say that blueberries and strawberries were part of this study because they are the most eaten berries in the United States. So, it’s possible that other foods could have the same effect.
