The blueberry bush is a flowering branched shrub height from a few centimeters to half a meter. It has creeping rhizomes, oblong-ovate leaves, and small single pink-green flowers. Blueberry fruits (berries) are round or ellipsoidal, up to 8 mm in diameter, juicy, sweet, and blue-black with a bluish bloom, purple pulp, and juice.
Berry is eaten fresh, frozen, and dried. It is used to make jelly, juices, liqueurs, jams, marshmallows, and jam, bake cakes, casseroles, cakes, rub with sugar, or make jam.
Blueberries are rich in fiber, organic acids, phytochemicals, and vitamins. Therefore, these berries are widely used in traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. In addition, berry is popular as an effective anti-aging remedy.
Blueberry Nutrition Facts
Many blueberry varieties, especially wild varieties, contain a huge number of biologically active compounds, which give them healing properties. First of all, these are condensed tannins (up to 7%), and many anthocyanins (this is due to the intense black and blue color). Antioxidants (tannins, flavonoids, including protoantocyanides), glycosides, carotenoids, esters.
Blueberries are a powerhouse of nutrients. They contain resveratrol, a remarkable antioxidant that helps safeguard your heart, brain, and overall well-being. These low-calorie berries provide 0.383 mg of resveratrol per 100-ounce serving, making them a nutritious addition to your diet.
Blueberry pulp contains several varieties of organic acids: quinic, malic, oxalic, citric, lactic, and succinic. Also in the berry, there are many dietary fibers (fiber), pectins, simple carbohydrates (7.6%), some proteins (1.1 g), and very little fat (0.6 g).
In the chemical composition of the berries are present: potassium (51 mg), calcium (16 mg), phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium, as well as manganese, copper, and iron. Vitamin composition is represented by vitamins C, K, PP, E, B1, and B2. Berries have a low-calorie content, only 44 calories/100 g
Health Benefits
People from ancient times began to call blueberries rejuvenating berries. And such benefits of the berry for the human body are really indisputable. Present biologically active compounds endow blueberries with therapeutic and prophylactic properties. The antioxidant composition of berries helps the body not only protect against aging and cancer but also improves overall health. Here are some proven health benefits of blueberries.:
- supports and improves visual acuity, improves the condition of the retina;
- prevents and inhibits the spread of cancer cells;
- improves memory and brain activity;
- restores metabolic processes;
- prevents blood clots;
- supports the cardiovascular system;
- helps to lower blood pressure
- has a choleretic, insignificant diuretic and pronounced astringent effect;
- regulates the pancreas, including insulin production;
- has a strong bactericidal effect;
- slows down cell aging;
- normalizes digestive functions;
- removes toxins, and fights radionuclides, and free radicals.
Benefits of Blueberries for Men’s Health
Regular use of fresh berries has the necessary beneficial qualities for men’s health.
Berry is able to improve the work of the testicles, which improves the quality of sperm. It controls the reproductive function of the body.
It is recommended to eat those couples who have difficulty conceiving a child. Flavonoids that make up the berries, support for a long time, male power.
Bilberry is able to alleviate the condition associated with prostate disease.
Blueberry Benefits for Women’s Health
What is the benefit of berries for women’s health? In fact, the berry has healing properties useful for the female body.
Blueberries in various forms are recommended for hair growth and for rejuvenating the skin of the face. The complex of vitamins and amino acids contributes to the preservation of moisture and oxygen in the skin. As well as the production of collagen and elastin. Vitamin C promotes the formation of collagen which is responsible for smoothing wrinkles.
Antioxidants in the berries prevent the aging of the skin and contribute to its restoration. Bilberry accelerates blood circulation, which has a positive effect on women’s health.
To reduce muscle spasms and discomfort, doctors recommend using berries during menstruation.
Beauticians strongly recommend pureed fresh blueberries for the preparation of masks for the face and wraps. After several such procedures, the skin becomes elastic, healthy, and healthy.
Women often suffer from varicose veins. Therefore, to reduce the symptoms of the disease and improve blood circulation, it is recommended to eat berries constantly.
Maintains Eye Health
Bilberry restores and maintains the level of oxygen and essential nutrients in the structures of the eyes, and also prevents the destruction of cellular elements. Undoubtedly, such effects can positively affect vision. However, this concerns mainly functional disorders.
Official medicine recognizes that eating blueberries helps restore the retina with retinopathy. This is a pathological process of a degenerative nature, developing as a result of diabetes and high blood pressure. The therapeutic effect of berries for humans is due to anthocyanins.
To improve visual function, it is recommended to use berries in any form. Perfect fresh, freshly picked blueberries.
Side Effects
Along with an extensive list of useful properties of blueberries, there are a number of contraindications. As with the use of most other wild fruits, allergic reactions may occur. Therefore, you should exclude the use of berries due to individual intolerance.
In diseases of the liver, as well as the pancreas, the risk of complications is possible, so it is best to consult your doctor if you can eat berries. It is better to abandon blueberries at the same time as the course of taking blood-thinning medications.
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