Bilberries are small fruits very similar to blueberries in appearance, though they are pretty different from blueberries. These little fruits are part of the wild forests of Northern Europe; these fruits have been traditionally employed both for culinary and pharmacological purposes.
They are smaller than common blueberries, and this little berry has a deeper blue shade, which can bleach your hands and mouth when you eat it. The inside flesh is dark purple. Inside bilberries, it appears light green compared to how blueberries appear with light green inside.
How may Bilberry protect our eyes?
One of the best-documented health benefits of Bilberry is its benefit to our eyes. During World War II, British pilots were fed bilberry jam because they believed it improved their vision at night when they flew. Again, that sounds like a lot of nonsense, but modern science has found some truth in that claim.
Bilberries contain unique chemical substances that can help preserve the sensitive structures of our eyes that interpret light. They help prevent eye strain, primarily if you work extensively at computer screens. Bilberry can also help delay the progress of age-related eye diseases.
How are Bilberries beneficial to cancer patients?
Bilberries appear to be potentially beneficial for cancer patients.
Among its first-class principal components of bilberries is anthocyanin. As highly active antioxidants, these compounds help combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Both factors are often associated with causes of cancer progression. Bilberries neutralize free radicals, thus offering protection to healthy cells and reducing the risk of the proliferation of cancer cells.
Research has even shown that bilberries may also be applied together with more cancer drugs to achieve better efficiency in cancer treatment.
- Some of their compounds make chemotherapy effective and reduce harm to normal cells by making the cancerous cells more susceptible to chemotherapy while guarding the normal cells.
- Bilberries have been found to have an antiproliferative effect on various cancers such as breast, colon, and prostate.
- Plus, bilberries may benefit the health of cancer patients generally through improved immunity and gut health.
- The fiber in this fruit can aid digestion, which can be particularly important for patients taking medication that would cause unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.
This means that bilberries can be an important constituent of a diet for cancer patients, providing them with their required nutrients and antioxidants. They may also possibly enhance the overall well-being of patients undergoing treatment. But again, patients should speak with their healthcare professionals before making changes to their diet.
What can bilberries do to improve our heart’s health?
Our hearts can gain so much from bilberries. These fruits help maintain healthy and active blood vessels. This is the precondition for good blood circulation.
These fruits can help in keeping the blood pressure in a normal range, and cholesterol as well. Imagine your blood vessels as water pipes: Bilberries clean them and make sure they work all right. The antioxidants in bilberries also protect the cells of our hearts so they do not become dysfunctional due to damage with age.
Can bilberries help with lowering blood sugar?
Bilberry may be a helpful friend for those who check their blood sugar. These berries may help our body systems break down sugar well by making our cells responsive to insulin, that regulates blood sugar.
In other words, it is as if they open the door to welcome more sugar into our cells quickly. This is not to say bilberries themselves are some panacea for diabetes medication, but they could be one more thing added to an otherwise healthy diet for someone with blood sugar worries.
How does Bilberry support our brain function?
Our thought process slows down with age. Bilberries may also be helpful in this regard. Potent antioxidants in berries prevent our brain cells from being damaged and could help improve our memory. Assisting users who regularly take bilberries will help people remember important stuff in life. Think of it as feeding your brain good food to improve it.
What other health benefits may Bilberry carry?
Bilberries are like little packages of health, complete with excellent benefits. They may help reduce inflammation. They boost our immune system. Some users even reported aid in digestive problems. The berries can also help reduce the soreness in our bodies after exercise so we can recover faster.
How do we get Bilberry into our daily diets?
As much as you may want to believe otherwise, there are many ways to ensure you get more Bilberry in your diet. It may be challenging to find fresh bilberries readily unless you reside in its growing regions; however, bilberries can be in dried form, such as bilberry jam and bilberry capsules, which can be purchased easily.
Some people keep dried bilberries by their beds to add to their morning cereal or yogurt, spread bilberry jam on their toast, mix them into smoothies, and so on. If using supplements, it’s worth consulting your doctor before a course, not least if you’re taking other medications.
Conclusion:
We ought to be aware of the side effects relating to this fruit:
Bilberries can be eaten as food without any harm, but we must watch out for the supplement. Too much bilberry supplement may interact with blood thinning medicines or diabetes drugs. Several may experience an upset stomach from too many berries taken in simultaneously.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should simply stick to eating their bilberries as food rather than supplements. It is always wise; just like any new supplement, it is first checked with your healthcare provider.
Remember that though bilberries have numerous remarkable health benefits, they shine when applied to a healthy lifestyle and diet. They are not miracle workers but a beneficial supplement to good eating habits. Adding bilberries to your diet will give your body some much-needed support for staying healthy and fit.
REFERENCE LINKS:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23387969/
https://www.nfcr.org/blog/national-blueberry-month-health-benefits-and-cancer-prevention/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11196611/