5 surprising blueberry benefits for your skin

Blueberries are small, sweet, and highly nutritious. Topping the list as a natural superfood, blueberries are known for their disease-fighting properties, they’re accessible year-round, making them an excellent addition to your diet.

Alongside, attention on nutrition and skin health, many people wonder how blueberries may help their skin stay youthful and healthy.

As you grab a handful of berries to bite into, do you pause to think of the potential benefits of blueberries?

Here are the 5 skin benefits of blueberries, and how you can include them in your diet:

Support wound healing

If you have a cut, minor burn, or blemish, eating blueberries may help it heal. When the skin is damaged, it experiences acute inflammation and oxidative stress, which is when free radicals outnumber antioxidants. The high antioxidant content of blueberries can help fight free radicals, potentially helping speed the healing process

Naturally boost collagen

Blueberries are high in anthocyanin, which may support collagen synthesis. In a few skin sample studies, applying anthocyanin from berries to the skin reduced collagen breakdown and increased overall collagen production. In another study, rats fed a diet high in blueberries had greater collagen production in their bones

Improve circulation

A diet high in blueberries is associated with better heart health and circulation, which is important for skin health. Your heart pumps blood throughout your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells, as well as to remove waste from them.

Fight premature aging

Blueberries are high in antioxidants, which are natural compounds that help fight cell-damaging free radicals. In particular, they’re high in plant compounds known as anthocyanins, which have strong antioxidant properties and give blueberries their natural purple-blue hue.

As you age, your body’s ability to fight off free radicals declines. This leads to higher free radical levels, which can wreak havoc on your cells, especially your skin cells

Reduce acne-related inflammation

Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition resulting from blocked pores, leading to skin discoloration and/or redness, swelling, and inflamed bumps called pustules, which are also known as pimples, blueberries are a source of low glycemic carbs, which are linked to lower acne-related inflammation.