Bilberry - The Wonder Fruit

One of nature’s gifts to mankind includes an amazing fruit called Bilberry. It grows on a low shrub of the Vaccinium genus, the usually associated plant being of the myrtillus variety. The fruit is known by many names like blueberry, whortleberry and fraughan. They grow primarily in acidic soil, where the soil is damp. It is usually found in temperate and sub-arctic climates. They are related to the American blueberries and huckleberries by family but is distinguished from them by the fact that single berries are produced rather than clusters. You can also tell them apart by the fact that the fruit pulp of the bilberry is red or purple whereas the blueberry pulp is light green. It usually stains the fingers and lips of those eating them.

The Health Benefits of Bilberry Extract

There are many medicinal properties of bilberries and they are helpful in treating stomach problems like diarrhea and treating varicose veins. They also prevent atherosclerosis, a disease where the arteries which carry blood harden due to deposition of fats and salts.

They are also said to improve eyesight, and strengthen night vision abilities.They feature in popular stories where fighter pilots during the Second World War consumed bilberry jam to improve night vision for night time sorties. However they have benefits for eye health because they have compounds which protect the collagen structures of blood vessels, which lead to increased health of the capillaries which carry oxygen rich blood and nutrients to your eyes. Clinical trials have also shown that they do improve visual accuracy as refreshed eye muscles can focus better.

Other laboratory experiments have shown that bilberries do contain antioxidants which are beneficial for general health. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals which cause premature aging and extensive cell damage. They also contain lots of anthocyanin based pigments which are common to all blue or purple colored fruits. Anthocyanin compounds do however help to prevent certain diseases like cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and ocular degeneration and cancer. They do so by improving blood circulation and thereby clearing any deposit on the artery walls.

They also have therapeutic effects in reducing inflammations, and therefore are useful for treating gum problems, mouth sores as well as stomach ulcers and peptic ulcers. There are also claims that they are beneficial for treating diabetes, fibrocystic diseases and are helpful for those suffering from painful menstruation. The berry juice also has very strong antiseptic properties and may be applied to wounds in place of a proper antiseptic in an emergency, though using a proper antiseptic is always better.

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