Maybe it’s no coincidence that I have that delicious and healthy berry, blueberries, on my top list at this time of the year.
Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are semi-shrubs belonging to the family Erika or Ericaceae. Its fruit and leaves are also used in folk medicine. Depending on its location, it is also referred to as barberry, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cockscomb, molasses, afinya, mountain cherry, and mountain cherry.
Its fruit has been known and loved for a very long time. The first mention in the medical literature was made in the 16th century. In the Middle Ages, Abbey Hildegard of Bingen was the first to describe her healing effects, but it was also known and used by doctors.
It is native to northern Europe and native to north and central Europe. It is the most delicate wild fruit of the oak forests, beeches, and pine forests of the acidic soils of alpine, alpine landscapes, and middle mountains. It lives up to 2,500 m above sea level. It is home to the Carpathians and the Alps, the Sopron Mountains, the foothills of the Alps, the Nyírség and Nógrád counties.
Cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is an evergreen, mountainous, red-fruited species. It is bred in the Carpathians, Zemplén, and Western Transdanubia. Rare, strictly protected plant. Blueberry bunches (Vaccinium corymbosum) live on the east coast of North America.
Low, deciduous shrub growing to 30-60 cm. It has richly branching, rooting branches. The exciting thing is that up to a thousand square meters of colonies can drive from a single dagger. Its green shoots provide food for the wild in winter. Its leaves are ovate and pointed. The flowers in the leaf axils, sitting on a 5 mm stem, resemble tiny bells, their petals are pale greenish-reddish white, opening from April to June. They ripen their ashy, blackish blue, pleasantly sour berries from July to August, which is even dark blue. Its cultivated varieties can also be planted as ornaments for gardens, producing larger berries. Berries that ripen first are usually more productive than those that come later.
The nutritional value of wild blueberries is higher than that of those grown.
Key ingredients
The most important are the antioxidants: the anthocyanins, proanthocyanins, leukoanthocyanides, flavonols, and their derivatives which give a bluish-red color. One hundred grams of freshly picked blueberries contain about 400 mg of anthocyanin derivative. Blueberries also contain catechins, pectin, which provides plant fibers, fruit acids, and sugars. Among its vitamins are vitamins A, B1, C, and D, pantothenic acid, and nicotinamide. It can also contain proteins and negligible amounts of vegetable fat. Blueberries are cholesterol-free but rich in minerals, calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, and phosphorus.
Beneficial effects of blueberries on the body
- Blueberries are a fruit rich in fiber. And a high-fiber diet is the basis of healthy digestion and proper metabolism.
- Thanks to its outstandingly high antioxidant content, it protects cells, slows down the aging process, and makes it difficult for toxins to be absorbed by the body. Antioxidants help our bodies protect against free radicals that destroy the cells of the human body.
- It is outstanding due to its vitamin C content (as it contains 44 mg per 100 grams, which rivals citrus). It contributes to the prevention and treatment of inflammation and vascular diseases.
- Recent research suggests that the ingredients in blueberries also play an essential role in preventing the development of cancer, in addition to slowing the growth of pre-existing cancerous tumors.
- The fruit and leaves of blueberries contain an antioxidant called anthocyanidin, increasing the effectiveness of vitamins C and E, among other things. By consuming it, we can help our bodies effectively defend against viruses, helping our immune system. It protects specific neurons in the brain, improving our ability to concentrate and memory. It enhances the function of the capillary system through the production of collagens. Anthocyanidin is also responsible for the beautiful bluish-purple color of blueberries. The effect on vision is that it positively affects the eye’s light sensitivity, making it easier to adapt to a lot of light or even darkness. Anthocyanidin also has a positive effect on the condition of the eye in cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Blueberries help prevent “bad cholesterol,” LDL from accumulating, so the cardiovascular disease can also be avoided.
- Consumption of other berries in people with type 2 diabetes has been shown to have the potential to optimize fluctuating blood sugar levels. It can also help relieve the complications of diabetes and keep the heart, blood vessels, and eyes healthy.
- It is recommended for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease associated with aging.
- Due to its astringent tannins, dried blueberries help prevent diarrhea – they are especially beneficial in diarrhea in young children- gingivitis, inflammation of the mouth’s mucous membranes throat. Fresh, however, the berries are more laxative.
- It is especially recommended for pregnant women, as blueberries are rich in folic acid, vitamin C, and calcium, protecting the fetus’s health during pregnancy.
