30 Day Raw Vegan Fruit Project Day 16

http://www.vibrantvegan.com/raw-vegan-fruit-project.html

It’s Day 16 of Vibrant Vegan’s 30 Days, 30 Fruits for You Project!

Again, this is just one way we can help you eat more fruit each and every day! Fruit can help you feel oh so healthy and vibrant! Fruits are loaded with nutrients that are proven to help you live a healthier life!

The featured fruit for Day 16 is the…BLUEBERRY!

And now for a bit of info I thought you’d find interesting about BLUEBERRIES:

-Blueberries are one of the few fruits actually native to North America.

-One cup of blueberries contains about 85 calories.

-Blueberries are and excellent source of:
flavonoids, antioxidants
vitamins B2, C, and E
manganese
both soluble and insoluble fibers

-We all know blueberries contain a huge amount of antioxidants, therefore eating blueberries has been shown to:

help our capillary walls stay elastic
help lessen inflammation of gout and osteoarthritis
improve learning ability and motor skills
help our brains stay healthy
help us stay alert
help prevent cancer
stop diarrhea (especially from food poisoning)
cure bladder infections
protect against glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy

-The pectin in blueberries helps lower cholesterol and also helps prevent cholesterol from going rancid, or oxidizing (rancid fats have been shown to be factor in heart disease).

-The fiber in blueberries helps us to have easier bowel movements. Blueberries can “ease” constipation.

-Blueberries contain vasodilators which help dilate blood vessels, thus giving you temporary relief for nasal and lung congestion.

-The blueberry is the official berry of Nova Scotia.

-The blueberry is the official state fruit of New Jersey.

-Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and eat–no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting! They have few natural pests (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary.

-If refrigerated, fresh-picked (un-washed) blueberries will keep for several days. Wash your blueberries just before you’re going to use them, or there’s a good chance you’ll have mushy berries–ick!

-Blueberries are and excellent addtion to live, low fat vegan salsas, salads, chilled soups, sweet treats, and smoothies!

It’s recipe time! Here’s your LOW FAT, RAW VEGAN RECIPE FEATURING THE BLUEBERRY!

BLUEBERRY-BANANA-CACAO “PIE”

It’s like a pie, can be eaten like a pie, yet is so much more nutritious and healthier for you! Another refreshing, life-enhancing meal-treat for your low fat, raw vegan culinary adventures. This dish contains 350-400 calories.

Ingredients

1 banana
1 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1 1/2 tablespoon agave nectar

Slice the banana into 1/4″-1/8″ slices. Cover the bottom of a small bowl (cereal bowl size is just right) with the banana slices. In a small bowl, stir the cacao powder and agave nectar together until smooth. Drizzle a spoonful of cacao-agave over the bananas. Pour 1/2 of the blueberries over the cacao and bananas, then drizzle another spoonful of cacao-agave over that layer of berries. Pour the last of the berries over the cacao-agave, then drizzle any remaining cacao-agave over the blueberries. And that’s it–Pure deliciousness!

There’s another low fat, raw vegan meal for you.
Eat lots of fruit! Eat blueberries whenever you can!

Be Vegan, Be Vibrant!

Duration : 0:4:25

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