Feeding Blueberries to Babies May Reduce Allergy Symptoms and Improve Gut Health

Blueberries on the shrub – SWNS

Feeding blueberries to babies may reduce allergy symptoms and improve their gut health, according to new research.

The ground-breaking clinical trial shows consuming the fruit early in life can improve immunity and support long-term health.

Feeding blueberries to babies as one of their first solid foods may help strengthen their immune systems, reduce allergy symptoms and support healthy gut development, says scientists at the University of Colorado.

To safely introduce the “superfood” to younger infants, the research team recommend pureeing them.

For older babies and toddlers, they say blueberries should be mashed or cut into small pieces to eliminate choking hazards.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, is the first of its kind to rigorously test the effects of a specific food on infant health using a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

“For parents beginning to wean their infants, it’s incredibly difficult to find solid, research-backed advice on what foods to introduce,” said the study’s senior author Professor Minghua Tang, from the University of Colorado in Anschutz.

“This study is a critical first step in filling that gap by offering real data on how a specific food like blueberries can improve your infant’s health.”

The researchers followed 61 babies in the Denver area from five to 12 months of age.

Each day, participants consumed either freeze-dried blueberry powder, or a placebo powder with no blueberries.

Parents were free to feed their children as they normally would, simply adding the powder to their daily routine.

The research team collected stool and blood samples every two months to monitor changes in the infants’ gut bacteria, immune system biomarkers and allergy-related outcomes. They also tracked growth and dietary habits.

Key findings included improved allergy symptoms in babies who consumed blueberry powder, reduced inflammation and signs of a stronger immune response, and “positive” shifts in gut microbiota—with changes considered beneficial for immune health.

“This research supports the idea that blueberries are not only safe for infants but also offer meaningful health benefits,” added Professor Tang.

“Just a few blueberries a day could make a difference in supporting long-term health.”

“We view infancy as a critical window of opportunity and what we introduce during this time can have lasting effects as children grow.”The research team is continuing to explore what other early foods might help support healthy gut bacteria and a strong immune system as babies grow to ensure there’s better guidance in place for parents. Feeding Blueberries to Babies May Reduce Allergy Symptoms and Improve Gut Health

Read More........→September 30, 2025

Eating Baby Carrots 3 Times a Week May Provide Significant Health Benefits

By engin akyurt

A new study found that eating a snack of baby carrots just three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoids in young adults. Levels of these phytonutrients were boosted even more when combined with a multivitamin containing beta carotene.

Carotenoids are responsible for the red, orange, and yellow pigments in many fruits and vegetables—and when it’s measured in the skin it shows how many fruits and vegetables you’ve been eating.

Higher levels of skin carotenoids are linked to increased antioxidant protection, and a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and some cancers. This marker also reflects improved skin health and immune function.

“Previous studies have demonstrated that skin carotenoid levels can be increased by consuming three times the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables every day for three weeks,” said Mary Harper Simmons, a Master of Science in Nutrition student at Samford University.

“Our findings suggest that a small, simple dietary modification — incorporating baby carrots as a snack — can significantly increase skin carotenoid accumulation.”

Simmons presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago.

For the study, the researchers randomly assigned 60 young adults to groups that received a four-week intervention of either Granny Smith apple slices (the control group), 100 grams of baby carrots (around 1/2 cup), a multivitamin supplement containing beta carotene, or a combination of baby carrots and the supplement.

Before and after the intervention, they used a noninvasive research-grade spectroscopy instrument called a VeggieMeter to detect and quantify carotenoids in the skin of the study participants.

The team found that compared to their baseline levels, skin carotenoid scores were significantly increased by 10.8% in the group receiving the baby carrots and by 21.6% in the group receiving the carrots and the supplement. Skin carotenoid levels remained unchanged in the apple group, and in those receiving just the multi-vitamin supplement.

“We found that the combination of baby carrots and a multivitamin supplement that contains beta carotene can have an interactive effect on skin carotenoid accumulation,” said Simmons. “To get a beneficial effect, people should choose a multivitamin that contains beta carotene, and remember to eat baby carrots at least three times a week.”

Since carotenoid accumulation was not increased by multivitamin supplementation alone there could be differences in how carotenoids are absorbed, depending on whether they are from food or supplements.

The researchers would like to explore the mechanism behind these findings and study the effects of other carotenoid-rich foods, such as sweet potato or green leafy vegetables.The team noted that their current findings should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available. Eating Baby Carrots 3 Times a Week May Provide Significant Health Benefits

Read More........→September 17, 2025