Bilberries: The Berry that Enhances Vision

Bilberries are tasty, dark blue or purple berries that are related to the blueberry. Native to North America and Europe, the bilberry belongs to the Vaccinium family of herbs. This powerful berry is one of the richest sources of antioxidants, and has been shown to improve vision and symptoms associated with diabetes.

Both the berries and leaves of the plant are edible, although for regular consumption, it is better to avoid the leaves as there are chemicals in them that can cause liver inflammation. In times past, people ate the leaves or drank a tisane made from them. This concoction did lower blood sugar, but at the cost of liver inflammation. It is now recommended that only the berries be ingested.

The high concentration of anti-oxidants is in the berries. Bilberries are well known as a natural treatment for diabetes mellitus.

Bilberries contain concentrated quantities of a flavonoid known as anthocyanin. This potent antioxidant is known to shield blood vessels from damage caused by fats and calcium that circulate in the blood. They are known to have a beneficial effect on the miniscule capillaries that are often damaged by too much sugar in the blood. The anthocyanin enhances binding of harmful chemicals to themselves instead of to cells in the body. This process protects the innermost lining of the blood vessels from being damaged by oxidation chemicals.

This action of the bilberry may help prevent eye conditions common to diabetes, such as retinopathy and macular degeneration. It is also seen as helpful in other eye conditions including cataracts and night blindness. There is some evidence that this remarkable berry is also helpful in reducing the burning and tingling associated with diabetic neuropathy, which can cause extreme discomfort of the feet and hands.

The visual benefits of the bilberry were first noticed During World War II when British Royal Air Force pilots ate bilberry jam. They noticed that their night vision was sharper than usual whenever they ate the jam before starting their nighttime missions.

If you find a good source of bilberries growing near you, they can be picked when ripe and frozen. They freeze well so they can be eaten all year. This berry also makes a great jam, but the medicinal benefits are greatly reduced.

If picking wild bilberries is not possible, the best way to be certain of getting a consistent supply of the helpful anti-oxidants is by purchasing a regulated, commercial preparation of only berries. The bilberry fruit has no known harmful effects. (by: Sheryl Walters)

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Sea Buckthorn Berries Could Replace Chemical Additives in Meat Products

An extract from sea buckthorn berries functions as a preservative in meat and may provide an alternative to synthetic antioxidants, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and published in the journal Food Chemistry.

Researchers produced extracts from solid, juiced residue of sea buckthorn berries, then applied that extract to mechanically deboned chicken and turkey. They found that over six days, the extract prevented the oxidation of the unsaturated fats in the poultry meat and that higher doses led to an increased preservative effect. After six days, 50 percent of the antioxidant preservatives in the turkey meat had been lost, while substantially less had been lost in the chicken.

The researchers concluded that a 2 percent concentration of sea buckthorn berry extract is probably optimal. The taste and texture of patties prepared from the treated chicken and turkey were not affected at this concentration.

"It is safe to say that the processing residue of sea buckthorn juice is a good functional supplement to mechanically deboned meat or hand deboned meat products, guaranteeing inhibition of the oxidation of fatty acids as well as enriching the meat products with plant-derived health-beneficial polyphenols," the researchers wrote.

A number of recent studies have indicated that sea buckthorn berry's high antioxidant content leads to specific health benefits.

One study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that regular consumption of the berries reduced the blood levels of a protein associated with the inflammation that has been linked to diabetes and heart disease. Another study, from the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, reported on a new method of extracting a sea buckthorn berry juice rich in vitamin C, flavonoids and polyphenols. Juice extracted by the new method retains 70 percent of its vitamin C, 50 percent of its flavonoids and 40 percent of its polyphenols.
(by: David Gutierrez)

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Consume Super Foods for Super Health and Disease Prevention

We all know that when it comes to nutrition, all foods are not made the same. Whole wheat flour is better than white flour, almonds are more nutritionally sound than peanuts, and grilling is a much healthier alternative form of cooking than frying. When it comes to what we put in our bodies, we ought to be aiming for what the "Man of Steel" eats on a regular basis — super foods.

Super foods are not new to the marketplace. In fact, you may have lots of super foods in your pantry or refrigerator at this moment. What is new, however, is the realization of just how "super" these foods really are for our health and well-being through independent studies by health experts.

Super foods by definition are foods that are nutritionally dense, high in fiber and are believed to fight disease and increase longevity. And not surprisingly, most super foods are the ones you'll find in nature that don't require any kind of processing or refining. Take berries, for example. Every berry is considered "super" but a study done on blueberries and strawberries properties elicited some exciting results for berry lovers.

The study, published in the journal of Neurobiology and Aging, used 60 different rats and divided the rats into three groups. One group was fed strawberry extract, and the second was fed blueberry extract. The third was the control group and was not fed any berry extract. The rats were then released to run through a water maze, but not before they were exposed to a radioactive iron source which was meant to simulate age-related cognitive decline. After the run through was completed, results revealed that the control group showed significant impairment in learning ability, while the groups of rats that ate berry extract showed a resistance to cognitive decline.

While scientists who performed the study say more testing needs to be done, this study suggests that consuming berries protects the brain from radiation damage and decline in learning ability.

It's believed that the chemical responsible for blueberries' superpower is anthocyanin—what gives blueberries their color and may also play a role in their antioxidant activity. Blueberries, according to the USDA Human Research Center, are ranked #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables (Antioxidants help rid the body of cancer-causing free radicals).

Berries aren't the only super foods with super properties. Just as Superman's powers aren't relegated solely to super speed or super strength, each super food brings with it its own special power:

Avocados—Avocados do have a considerable amount of fat in them, but the right kind of fat. Like olive oil, avocados have healthy amounts of monounsaturated fat, which help lower "bad" cholesterol levels (LDL) while raising the "good" ones (HDL). Avocados are also great to combine with other foods as its properties help the body absorb nutrients from other nutrient-dense foods (like lycopene found in tomatoes, for example).

Beans— The old school days song of beans being good for your heart is true, thanks to the high amounts of betaine found in them. In addition, beans also have high amounts of lutein, which won't bring x-ray vision, but will help in protecting your eyes from sunlight.

Dark Chocolate—Believe it or not, chocolate, the dark variety, can help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. The special power dark chocolate has lies in its flavonoids, a type of anti-oxidant. Even though flavonoids are found in apples, tea, onions and peanuts, research indicates that dark chocolate has the highest level of flavonoids. That doesn't mean you should go out and eat it to your heart's delight, but you no longer need to attach "guilty" with the "pleasure" you'll get out of eating moderate portions of dark chocolate each week.

Oats—Eating raw oats isn't exactly an appetizing meal, but they're quite appetizing in oatmeal. Oats are a great source of vitamins and minerals, have a low glycemic index level, are high in fiber, low in sugar and have been proven to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

This is just a partial list of the super foods that can bring you a life of abundant health. Remember: Eating exorbitant amounts of almonds or blueberries does not equal more health. As with all things, moderation is key.
(by: Frank Mangano)

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