Wild Blueberries Have 50% More Antioxidants Than the Cultivated Blueberry.

Wild blueberries are found primarily in Maine and Canada. Native Americans were, to our knowledge, the first to use the tiny blue berries, both fresh and dried, for their flavor there nutrition and there healing qualities. A Native American legend has it that during a time of starvation, the Great Spirit sent the blue berry down from the heavens to relieve the hunger of his children. The legend called the “star berries” because of the leaves and berries star shape. These early Americans were the first to burn their Wild Blueberry barrens to encourage the growth of new bushes. It was not until the 1840's that these blueberries were first harvested commercially. And today they still burn the fields every two years to encourage growth.

The Maine and Canada farmers, some of which have been in the wild blue berry harvesting for generations still practice the hands off approach to the cultivation of wild blue berries. Some still use a hand harvester invented in 1910. This device does not cause damage to the fruit. They also use and protect wild bees which are used to pollinate the wild bushes. There are 60,000 acres of wild blue berries in Maine.
The same wild blue berry that our ancestors and their Native American friends ate is still available today, although they are not as plentiful as the commercial grown variety. The wild blueberry of yesterday has almost twice the antioxidant activity as its commercial grown brethren according to the Dole company which is a major distributor in America.

Recent USDA studies, Using a lab testing procedure called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, measured the antioxidant activity of more than 20 commercially available fruits and ranked Wild Blueberries #1! UDSA researcher Ronald Prior, Ph.D., found that a one-cup serving of Wild Blueberries has more total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than a serving of cranberries, strawberries, plums, raspberries or cultivated blueberries. The wild fruit also outperformed selected fruits in an advanced procedure known as the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay, a new means of measuring bioactivity inside cells. The study was conducted by a Cornell University research team led by Dr. Rui Hai Liu.

All of the research I have found so far points to the blueberry and especially the wild variety as the best choice for a antioxidant food source. One half cup of wild blue berries delivers as much antioxidant power as four servings of other antioxidant fruits and vegetables. The blueberries taste good too with the wild variety being smaller and have a tangy sweet flavor.
And there’s more good news: the FDA has concluded that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh and may even retain their nutritional value longerAntioxidants help our bodies protect against disease and age-related health risks. Every day, our cells wage a battle against free radicals these molecules have been associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. The phytonutrients, natural substances found in fruits and vegetables, neutralize free radicals and help prevent cell damage. Because blueberries have such large amounts of antioxidants you get more bang for your buck.

Antioxidants also protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases of aging. The potent antioxidants found in Wild Blueberries include flavonoids and other phenolics such as anthocyanins; Wild Blue berries are higher in anthocyanin content than other fruits and vegetables. It is these flavonids and anthocyanin that off us the protection against disease

Ongoing brain research shows that blueberries may improve motor skills and actually reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging, making blueberries a natural “brain food."

Research shows that blueberry compounds may inhibit all stages of cancer.

Research indicates< that blueberries may protect against heart disease and damage from stroke.

Like cranberries, blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections.

Research around the world has indicated that blueberries may improve night vision and prevent tired eyes.

Wild Blueberries to Antioxidant Foods