National Blueberry Month is coming up, but we don’t need that as a reason to enjoy these delicious beads of juicy tartness straight from nature. They’re in season right now (May through October), so they’re sure to be fresh and delicious if you pick some up from the farmer’s market. And like Colin Firth says in Bridget Jones Diary, there just aren’t enough blue foods!

Though you may love blueberry pie, pancakes, muffins and a slew of other blue-speckled foods (my daughter likes them in her oatmeal), did you know that you’re not only giving your mouth a treat but your body one as well?

Blueberries are considered a “superfood,” and in fact, one of nature’s perfect foods. Since they’re very low in calories (a cup has about 81) but packed with nutrients and benefits, they’re great as a meal addition, a snack, or a dieter’s food.

High in vitamin C, manganese, dietary fiber (both soluble and insoluble), and vitamin E, blueberries are also considered one of the most antioxidant-packed foods on the planet. They are full of anthocyanins—which give them their red and blue coloring—as well as ellagic acid. Both of these are phytochemicals that have been proven to prevent damage to cells.

It’s amazing that just by containing these nutrients, something as small as blueberries could protect us from glaucoma, hemorrhoids, different types of cancer, cataracts, heart disease and a slew of other health problems. They also help relieve constipation, and may even reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease.

You probably know about how red wine is good for your heart. That’s because it contains the same anthocyanins that blueberries have. The difference is that blueberries have 38% more than wine—so if you want that heart protection, blueberries are a great way to get it.

I remember that while growing up my grandmother always said that carrots would help improve my vision. Come to think of it, I think all of my relatives said that. So I ate the heck out of my carrots—and here I sit, still in my glasses. It seems that in addition to the eye protective qualities mentioned above, the bilberry, cousin to the blueberry, also may help improve nighttime vision. Better than a carrot, maybe?

With stats like these, I think the old adage should be changed to “A cup of blueberries a day keeps the doctor away!” So go ahead, blueberry fans—eat up, and if people make smurf jokes about your blue tongue and lips, just smile and nod, knowing that your body loves you for your cobalt kisser.