SALAD OF BLUEBERRIES AND RED GRAPES, A CURE FOR WINTER

With the arrival of the winter season and the cold weather , it is important to strengthen our immune system in order to limit , and why not to avoid the small but annoying ailments typical of the period .

Nature, even in this case, contributes to our well-being by providing foods such as blueberries and red grapes has always been known for their health properties .

During different periods in history blueberries have been used for wide variety of purposes , such as the Gauls and Celts , they used to use the berries of a cranberry color for the clothes, the women of the Roman Empire in the water instead inserivano which were bathing in order to promote the ' tan , while the greek physician and botanist Dioscorides used to treat dysentery.

But reaching nowadays , blueberries and red grapes have been the subject of study by researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State University , where they were analyzed 446 substances in blueberries and red grapes , of these only two , resveratrol and pterostilbene , have shown ( in this study ) really interesting therapeutic properties .

Both of these substances work synergistically with Vitamin D stimulates the formation of cathelicidin, a substance present in the body , produced mainly by neutrophils (cells of our immune system ) and some epithelial cells. This type of cells belong to the innate immune system type , that is the first line of defense of our body active against any type of pathogen attack. The cathelicidin therefore, acts similarly to an antibiotic, strengthening our natural defenses against pathogenic bacteria .

From these results we can deduce that include blueberries and red grapes in our food supply, especially here in times when our body is weaker , it may be an appropriate choice , and as usual we propose a simple and tasty recipe made ​​with blueberries and grapes

Salad of blueberries and grapes

INGREDIENTS:

· 300 g of white grapes

· 300 g of red grapes

· 200 g of blueberries

· 400 g of whole wheat bread

· rocket

· nuts

FOR THE DRESSING

· 300 g of white grapes

· 6 tablespoons of olive oil

· 1 large lemon

· Salt and pepper

Preparation:

For the dressing , mix the grape and pass through a tissue , add the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Only then add the oil with vigorous stirring

Dice the bread , brush with extra virgin olive oil and toast lightly in a pan (be careful not to form black areas on the bread ) .

Mix all the salad ingredients and condiamo with the emulsion prepared , serving all with the toasted bread.

Enjoy your meal!

Andrea Busalacchi