Fats Domino may have declared "I Found My Thrill on Blueberry Hill" in 1959, but in 2026 it's researchers from the University of Maine and elsewhere who are singing about the thrilling benefits of wild blueberries.

Researchers reviewed 12 clinical trials conducted over a span of 24 years and found that eating a cup of wild blueberries helps protect your cardiometabolic health by enhancing blood vessel function and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress — and the benefits increase if you eat that amount daily.

Wild blueberries also appear to support gut health, which promotes a healthy cardiovascular system and protects thinking speed and memory. That's because they contain polyphenols such as anthocyanins, a flavonoid found in red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables.

Other beneficial blue foods include:

• Concord grapes

• Blue tomatoes (yes, they exist)

• Blue/purple carrots

• Blue corn

• Plums

• Purple cauliflower

• Purple cabbage

But be careful not to fall for artificially colored "blue foods." The food dyes Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2 are still being used (they're scheduled to be banned around the end of this year) and show up in ice cream, canned vegetables, and packaged soups, as well as icings, candy, snacks, and cereals.