Biotransformed blueberry juice and cellulite

Blueberries, a rich source of flavonoids, are the ideal anti-cellulite food

Flavonoids are a class of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that exhibit anti-obesity, blood vessel-supporting and skin tightening qualities. Given that cellulite comprises mainly superficial fat, water retention, loose skin and oxidative damage, it is clear that low calorie, flavonoid-rich foods are ideal in the fight against cellulite.

Blueberries, like all berries, are known for their high concentration of flavonoids and other antioxidants and for their relatively low sugar concentration (about 15% for most commercially available varieties of blueberries), and therefore form an ideal anti-cellulite food. Blueberry juice however contains no fibre to slow down the absorption of sugar and offer a sense of satiety and therefore is not recommended as an anti-cellulite food, unless it is taken immediately after vigorous exercise or other physical activity.

Bacterial fermentation, however, reduces the amount of available sugar and biotransforms the phytochemicals found in a juice, quite often to a more potent form than the original compounds, thereby making the juice more healthful than the original fruit. And this is what inspired a group of Canadian researchers to examine the effects of fermented blueberry juice on obesity and diabetes.

Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of biotransformed blueberry juice in KKAy mice

{International Journal of Obesity: T Vuong, A Benhaddou-Andaloussi, A Brault, D Harbilas, L C Martineau, D Vallerand, C Ramassamy, C Matar and P S Haddad}

The researchers in this study fed a group of obesity-prone mice blueberry juice fermented by the bacterium Serratia vaccinii, which is found on the skin of the fruit, and then examined the mice for signs of obesity and diabetes. The results of the study showed that incorporating biotransformed blueberry juice in their drinking water protected the animals from overeating, significantly reduced their weight gain and protected them against the development of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. Predictably, chronic administration of the juice reduced the animals' food intake and body weight. The researchers believe that the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effect of the juice is due to the increase of AMPK in muscle and fat cells.

AMPK (5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme that stimulates fatty acid oxidation (fat burning) in muscle and liver cells. It's levels are also naturally raised by good old vigorous exercise, as well as several other plants, including green tea, turmeric, red kidney beans, among others.

In summary, biofermented blueberry juice can decrease appetite and body weight and at the same time offer valuable antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that aid the skin and blood vessels stay strong, thereby fighting cellulite on several different fronts. It is most certainly not a miracle cure, but it can form part of a healthy anti-cellulite when it becomes commercially available. In the meantime, the advice for all women who want to have a pair of smooth, firm, sexy looking legs is simple: do loads of exercise, eat loads of oily fish, vegetables, beans and herbs, avoid sugar, fried foods and excessive alcohol, and of course eat loads of blueberries!