Feeding babies blueberries has huge health benefits

By Stephen Beech

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

The ground-breaking clinical trial shows that 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, say American scientists.

To safely introduce the "superfood" to younger infants, the research team recommends pureeing it.

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 Nutrients and Frontiers in Nutrition, is the first of its kind to rigorously test the effects of a specific food on infant health using a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

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

“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.”

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The study 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.

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

“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.