Bilberry A Powerful Antioxidant
Like It's Cousin The Blueberry

Bilberry is also called huckleberry, whortleberry, dyeberry, trackleberry, wineberry, and European blueberry. It is a member of the Ericaceae family. This perennial shrub grows to an average height of 1-2 feet. It has small, bright green leaves with a bell shaped flower that can be pink or white, and makes a fruit in the end of spring (into summer) that is dark blue or purple, similar to a blueberry.

For people living in the US it is the blueberry for Europeans it is the bilberry or one of the many names developed over the hundreds of years of use. They are two different but very similar bushes. Blueberry is Vaccinium angustifolium and the Bilberry is Vaccinium myrtillus. From a laymens view interested in nutritional aspects the plants are nearly identical. Since European Blueberry has been around for so long our European cousins have done much research that we can use if we choose.

The major difference and the reason the fruit is used in many nutritional formulas is this fruit is rarely cultivated and most European Blueberry comes from the wild. Like American Wild Blueberries this increases the nutritional value because the wild fruit has up to 50% more antioxidant power in the wild. The fruit has been around for a long time and the supply is well fixed and priced lower than blueberry..
The bilberry has been prized as a food source for hundreds of years. The written history of the plant dates to the Middle Ages around 1500. Traditionally, it was used to treat scurvy, cough, tuberculosis, stones and diarrhea, Today it is recognized as a nutrient that acts as an astringent and as a anti-inflammatory agent. This is due to the other primary constituent tannins. The leaf tannins make this fruit useful for diarrhea and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

The majority of treatment recommendations for Europen Blueberry today focus on its most active constituent, anthocyanins. These flavonoids are considered to be highly potent antioxidants, effective in preventing oxidation, reducing capillary permeability, and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Anthocyanins have been applied for various vascular disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and opthamalogical conditions. In study, they have also been shown to exhibit effects on collagen integrity and production.

Current Natural Uses
Bilberry nutrients support proper function of capillaries and reduces the leakage of fluid out into the tissue space, which causes edema Swelling (Edema) is a common occurrence in pregnancy, individuals on bed rest, and those with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes. European Blueberry has the nutrients that help in reducing swelling.
European Blueberry has long been recommended for vision improvement especially night vision. It is here where the RAF pilots in WWII made it famous. They the fruit right before a mission and the pilots claimed it improved their night vision. This is due to its high antioxidant content from anthocyanins. The eyes need these nutrients everyday to protect them against the environment like UV rays. Anthocyanins are a flavonoid that has a specific affinity for the eyes, especially the retina.

Eating this fruit has been shown to protect against age-related macular degeneration This condition is common in seniors over 50 years of age., Macular degeneration is primarily due to oxidative damage from the sun.

The fruit is a potent antioxidant due to its diverse flavonoid content. It is useful in cardiovascular disease, namely, atherosclerosis In clinical applications, European Blueberry has been shown to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol levels. Oxidized LDL has been shown to be a first step towards the development of atherosclerosis. Oxidized LDL is what starts the chain reaction of free radical damage.

European Blueberry has also been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation is another contributing factor in the formation of arterial plaques which leads to hardening of the arteries It is also part of the disease process in clot formation and deep vein thrombosis or blood clots Because it supports the structure and integrity of the blood vessels and limits platelet aggregation, bilberry may be helpful for cases of deep vein blood clots

The European Blueberry may be an effective treatment for certain types of cancers. In a study, the fruits extract was shown to inhibit new blood vessel formation The antioxidants contained in bilberry were shown to slow vascular endothelial growth factor. This molecules chemical job is to signal new growth. Invasive cancers use the process of blood vessel formation to increase blood supply, thereby supplying specific nutrients needed for tumor growth and subsequent invasion of surrounding tissue. The fruit was also shown to slow the growth of colon cancer cells in test tubes. This is all believed to be due to the antioxidant activity of the flavonoid anthocyanin. The fruit did not interfere with the growth of normal healthy colon cells in the test.

Free radicalsare the largest single cause of cell damage and fruits have the antioxidant nutrients which help eliminate dangerous levels of free radicals.

In accordance with the FDA these products are not intended to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any diseases. Information on this site is given for educational purposes only and is not to replace the advice of your health care professional.
From Bilberry To Antioxidant Foods