Did you know Bilberry Plants are perennial shrubs native to Northern Europe that grow to about 16 inches and have oval leaves and small pink and white flowers?
In late summer, its dark purple berries ripen. Bilberry fruit looks and tastes much like the American blueberry.
Common names:
huckleberry, blaberry, whortleberry, whinberry, myrtle blueberry.
Bilberries closely relate to N. American wild and cultivated blueberries. Look at the color of the fruit meat to tell the difference. Bilberries have red or purple fruit meat while blueberries have light green.
You can eat bilberries fresh or use them for jams, juices, and pies.
Bilberry Health Benefits
In medieval times, people ate bilberries mixed with honey to relieve diarrhea and menstrual cramps. Recently, an expert herbal remedies panel (Commission E) in Germany endorsed bilberry as an effective diarrhea treatment.
Herbalists in Europe also use it to treat urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
However, modern bilberry research mainly focuses on the high concentration of flavonoids called anthocyanosides.
These chemicals show remarkable antioxidant qualities. They neutralize “free radicals”.
Antioxidants help prevent illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and flu.
The benefits of bilberry also include vitamin C and vitamin D.
Bilberry Information: Anthocyanosides
They maintain the strength and integrity of circulation by protecting against platelet clogging and oxidizing agents in the blood. And they reduce the damage to blood vessels by diabetes and atherosclerosis.
In Europe, bilberry is often prescribed to treat varicose veins since it reinforces the cell structure in veins.
Bilberry contains a rich supply of tannins too, which act as an astringent, anti-septic, and anti-inflammatory. For painful mouth ulcers, instead of gargling with warm salt water, try eating fresh or dried bilberries.
Bilberry Eye Complex
Bilberry extract for eyesight health: Can the anthocyanosides in bilberry help correct vision problems?
Studies show that bilberry may slow the onset of cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and night blindness. This claim is unproven however.
Bilberry extract helps improve micro-circulation---the blood flow to the tiny vessels
in the eye.
This is critical to maintaining good eyesight with age.
Does bilberry help cataracts for real? Well, if you already have cataracts, it's best to seek medical attention.
Bilberry eye health is about preventing, not treating illness.
Promising Scientific Research
In a study of 40 people with vascular retinopathy, bilberry showed remarkable success---77 to 90 percent improvement in a one month trial.
What is vascular retinopathy? It's deterioration of the retina associated with diseases such as arterial hypertension, chronic nephritis, eclampsia, and arteriosclerosis. Doctors sometimes call it diabetic cataracts.
Diabetic cataracts are caused by increasing polyols in the eye lens brought about by the enzyme aldose reductase. Flavonoids, particularly quercetin, are potent blockers of aldose reductase.
And bilberry is rich in flavonoids.
Another study was done in Italy with 50 people who had early stage cataracts. Each participant was given bilberry extract 3 times a day with vitamin E. Amazingly, this treatment stopped the progression of the cataracts in 97 percent of the people.
Historical Fact...or Myth? During WWII, aviators in Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) reported improved night vision after eating bilberry jam. An elderly aunt of one fighter pilot made batches of bilberry jam for the men.
They would slather the jam on their toast.
The RAF were well-known to strike targets with devastating accuracy. After the war, the pilots continued to eat bilberry jam. And they lived with perfect vision for the rest of their lives or so the story goes.
Bilberry has no known side effects.
However, before you start taking supplemental bilberry, talk to your doctor.
And if you do notice any unwanted bilberry side effects, you should reduce your dosage of bilberry or stop taking it.
Bilberry May Not Be Recommended If...
You have allergies, especially to plants.
You're on medication.
You're pregnant or could become pregnant.
You're breast-feeding.
You have diabetes.
It’s not that bilberry is necessarily harmful; it’s that there is insufficient documented research. Better to err on the safe side.
Don’t Mix Formulations
The danger of bilberry increases if you take it in more than one form: tablet, capsule, liquid, tea.
Stick to one.
And keep your dosage of bilberry at a reasonable level.
Drug Interactions
Because the anthocyanosides in bilberry may stop blood clotting, there's an increased risk of bleeding if you take blood-thinning medication.
Also, bilberry lowers blood sugar, so it could pump up the effects of diabetes medication. To be safe, avoid bilberry.
If you take any of these, consult with your doctor first.
Fresh Bilberries!
Of course eating them fresh, a handful at at time, are most delicious! You can also make bilberry tea by takiny whole or crushed berries, pour boiling water over them and
let steep for 5 minutes.
Bilberry jam, pie, cobbler, or muffins are alway a delicious choice :)
The Power of Eating Berries Tested
Iris Erlund of the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland recently (Feb 2008) conducted a two month study of berries' effect on heart health. The researchers concluded:
The test group consisted of 72 middle-aged people. They were given 100 grams of whole bilberries and 50 grams of lingonberry nectar every other day. On the other days, they received 100 grams of blackcurrants or strawberries and raspberry juice.
Bilberry Extract Supplements!
The extract form of bilberry is the most potent.
It contains the highest percentage of anthocyanosides. Bilberry extract should be standardized to contain 25 % anthocyanidin.
Check for this on the label.
Pregnant and nursing women should not take bilberry extract. And if you take prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs, consult your doctor about possible negative interactions with bilberry.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Thanks for looking! God Bless, Simone :)
Copyright@SimoneBonda
Disclaimer - The herbal information on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. It is not the intention of the editor to advise on health care. Please see a medical professional about any health concerns you have. Disclaimer - These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information on this web site is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Tweet
In late summer, its dark purple berries ripen. Bilberry fruit looks and tastes much like the American blueberry.
Common names:
huckleberry, blaberry, whortleberry, whinberry, myrtle blueberry.
Bilberries closely relate to N. American wild and cultivated blueberries. Look at the color of the fruit meat to tell the difference. Bilberries have red or purple fruit meat while blueberries have light green.
You can eat bilberries fresh or use them for jams, juices, and pies.
Bilberry Health Benefits
In medieval times, people ate bilberries mixed with honey to relieve diarrhea and menstrual cramps. Recently, an expert herbal remedies panel (Commission E) in Germany endorsed bilberry as an effective diarrhea treatment.
Herbalists in Europe also use it to treat urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
However, modern bilberry research mainly focuses on the high concentration of flavonoids called anthocyanosides.
These chemicals show remarkable antioxidant qualities. They neutralize “free radicals”.
Antioxidants help prevent illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and flu.
The benefits of bilberry also include vitamin C and vitamin D.
Bilberry Information: Anthocyanosides
They maintain the strength and integrity of circulation by protecting against platelet clogging and oxidizing agents in the blood. And they reduce the damage to blood vessels by diabetes and atherosclerosis.
In Europe, bilberry is often prescribed to treat varicose veins since it reinforces the cell structure in veins.
Bilberry contains a rich supply of tannins too, which act as an astringent, anti-septic, and anti-inflammatory. For painful mouth ulcers, instead of gargling with warm salt water, try eating fresh or dried bilberries.
Bilberry Eye Complex
Bilberry extract for eyesight health: Can the anthocyanosides in bilberry help correct vision problems?
Studies show that bilberry may slow the onset of cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and night blindness. This claim is unproven however.Bilberry extract helps improve micro-circulation---the blood flow to the tiny vessels
in the eye.
This is critical to maintaining good eyesight with age.
Does bilberry help cataracts for real? Well, if you already have cataracts, it's best to seek medical attention.
Bilberry eye health is about preventing, not treating illness.
Promising Scientific Research
In a study of 40 people with vascular retinopathy, bilberry showed remarkable success---77 to 90 percent improvement in a one month trial.
What is vascular retinopathy? It's deterioration of the retina associated with diseases such as arterial hypertension, chronic nephritis, eclampsia, and arteriosclerosis. Doctors sometimes call it diabetic cataracts.
Diabetic cataracts are caused by increasing polyols in the eye lens brought about by the enzyme aldose reductase. Flavonoids, particularly quercetin, are potent blockers of aldose reductase.
And bilberry is rich in flavonoids.
Another study was done in Italy with 50 people who had early stage cataracts. Each participant was given bilberry extract 3 times a day with vitamin E. Amazingly, this treatment stopped the progression of the cataracts in 97 percent of the people.
Historical Fact...or Myth? During WWII, aviators in Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) reported improved night vision after eating bilberry jam. An elderly aunt of one fighter pilot made batches of bilberry jam for the men.
They would slather the jam on their toast.
The RAF were well-known to strike targets with devastating accuracy. After the war, the pilots continued to eat bilberry jam. And they lived with perfect vision for the rest of their lives or so the story goes.
Bilberry Extract Information
The dangers of bilberry are few, but you should know about them.Bilberry has no known side effects.
However, before you start taking supplemental bilberry, talk to your doctor.
And if you do notice any unwanted bilberry side effects, you should reduce your dosage of bilberry or stop taking it.
Bilberry May Not Be Recommended If...
You have allergies, especially to plants.
You're on medication.
You're pregnant or could become pregnant.
You're breast-feeding.
You have diabetes.
It’s not that bilberry is necessarily harmful; it’s that there is insufficient documented research. Better to err on the safe side.
Don’t Mix Formulations
The danger of bilberry increases if you take it in more than one form: tablet, capsule, liquid, tea.
Stick to one.
And keep your dosage of bilberry at a reasonable level.
Drug Interactions
Because the anthocyanosides in bilberry may stop blood clotting, there's an increased risk of bleeding if you take blood-thinning medication.
Also, bilberry lowers blood sugar, so it could pump up the effects of diabetes medication. To be safe, avoid bilberry.
If you take any of these, consult with your doctor first.
- warfarin (coumadin)
- heparin
- plavix
- aspirin
- ibuprofen
- advil
- motrin
- nuprin
- naproxen
- aleve
- naprosyn
- naprelan
- anaprox
- ketoprofen
- indomethacin
- etodolac
Fresh Bilberries!
Of course eating them fresh, a handful at at time, are most delicious! You can also make bilberry tea by takiny whole or crushed berries, pour boiling water over them and
let steep for 5 minutes.
Bilberry jam, pie, cobbler, or muffins are alway a delicious choice :)
The Power of Eating Berries Tested
Iris Erlund of the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland recently (Feb 2008) conducted a two month study of berries' effect on heart health. The researchers concluded:
"In conclusion, we found favorable changes in platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol after the consumption of berries for two months."
The test group consisted of 72 middle-aged people. They were given 100 grams of whole bilberries and 50 grams of lingonberry nectar every other day. On the other days, they received 100 grams of blackcurrants or strawberries and raspberry juice.
Bilberry Extract Supplements!
The extract form of bilberry is the most potent.
It contains the highest percentage of anthocyanosides. Bilberry extract should be standardized to contain 25 % anthocyanidin.
Check for this on the label.
Pregnant and nursing women should not take bilberry extract. And if you take prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs, consult your doctor about possible negative interactions with bilberry.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Thanks for looking! God Bless, Simone :)
Copyright@SimoneBonda
Disclaimer - The herbal information on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. It is not the intention of the editor to advise on health care. Please see a medical professional about any health concerns you have. Disclaimer - These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information on this web site is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Tweet
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