Blueberry
Common Name: Blueberry
Botanical Name: Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Growing Area: Canada, USA, South America
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General Info:
The "wild" Blueberry plant is a perennial shrub mainly native to North America. Plants in the same family, such as the Bilberry, can also be found in South America, Europe, and Asia.
These Blueberry plants are tolerant of fire and often thrive after a fire sweeps through their growing area. Plants of this species usually grow to about one foot tall. Other varieties of Blueberry can grow anywhere from 4 inches to 16 feet tall!
Tiny Blueberry flowers are bell-shaped and can range in hue from white or greenish to pale pink or red. The fruits are small, only 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, with a five-pointed "crown" on the bottoms. Young fruits are pale green in color, turning purple-red, then finishing with a beautiful deep blue when they are fully ripe. Fresh Blueberry fruits have a protective whitish bloom coating their skins, and the insides of these delicious, sweet fruits are a translucent white or light green flesh.
The Blueberry growing season in North America usually begins in mid-May and lasts through the month of September.
Nutrients & Applications:
The striking indigo color of Blueberries boldly reveals the wealth of antioxidants that can be found inside - anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, flavonols, pterostilbene, kaempferol, and tannins, to name a few! These antioxidants have a well-deserved reputation for doing great things, such as protecting cells and tissues, improving the integrity of the veins and the entire vascular system, and preventing free-radical damage.
Blueberry consumption also supports neurological health. It protects the brain against oxidative stress and enhances cognition, memory, and learning. Studies have shown that when a diet rich in Blueberries is introduced, learning capacity and motor skills can greatly improve for aging animals. The zeaxanthin and lutein in Blueberry may also support healthy eyesight, and Blueberries may even have a balancing effect on mood.
Blueberries are a good friend to our hearts, too! They help maintain balanced cholesterol and blood lipid levels, and they support vascular cell components called glycosaminoglycans, which affect the control of blood pressure.
Aided by their soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as the astringent tannins, Blueberries promote healthy digestion and elimination. The urinary tract is also supported! Components found in Blueberry reduce the ability of bacteria to attach to the walls of the bladder and urethra. Also, a compound found in Blueberry leaves can help protect the liver. In addition, Blueberries help protect the bones of postmenopausal women.
These nutritious Blueberries, while being very low in calories, have high levels of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. Not only that, Blueberries can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This tasty berry has a low Glycemic Load - which means that, despite the sweetness, it will not rapidly turn into sugar when eaten!*
