Health Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries are flowering plants, that belong to the genus Vaccinium and section Cyanococcus. Though, they are indigenous to North America, blueberries are now grown in the southern hemisphere, in Australia, New Zealand, South American countries, and are exported to markets around the world. There are nearly 30 different species of blueberries, growing throughout the world.

Blueberries are shrubs, that grow in clusters and their size ranges from 10 cm - 4 m tall. The leaves are ovate or lanceolate-shaped, and are deciduous or evergreen. Blueberry flowers are bell-shaped, and are white, pale pink or red in color. The fruit is 5 mm - 16 mm in diameter, dark in color, ranging from pale greenish in the beginning to reddish-purple, and indigo on ripening. It is covered by a white-gray waxy protective coating. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh, that encloses tiny seeds. Their taste varies from sweet to tart or tangy.

History
Blueberries have been an important ingredient in pemmican, the traditional dish of North American Indians, which is composed of the fruit and dried meat. Till mid-19th century, they were not happily consumed by the colonists, as people did not like their tart flavor. Before, the beginning of the 20th century, blueberries were not cultivated, but later in 1916, they became commercially available. The cultivation of blueberries and their production, was initiated by a botanist at the United States Department of Agriculture. His work was supported by Elizabeth White, who along with her family established the first commercial blueberry field.

Identification
Huckleberry, bilberry, cowberry and cranberry are wild shrubs, that belong to other sections of the genus, and are informally referred to as blueberries. They are used in making jams and similar products. Blueberry can be differentiated from bilberry, by cutting these fruits into half. Ripe blueberry has white or greenish flesh, whereas bilberry is purple.

Health Benefits
Blueberry is a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, dietary fiber and soluble and insoluble fiber like pectin. It contains anthocyanin, phenolic, antioxidant pigments, phytochemical and ellagic acid, that prevents cell damage, inflammation and cancers.

• Anthocyanin and phenolic act as antioxidants, and neutralizes the free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells (the ground substance of all body tissues) and tissues, that lead to cataract, glaucoma, varicose vein, hemorrhoid, peptic ulcer, heart disease and cancer. These free radicals damage the cell membranes and DNA, causing dysfunctions and diseases associated with aging. Anthocyanin intensifies the effects of vitamin C, improves capillary integrity and stabilizes the collagen matrix of the cell.
• Blueberries provide a good cardio protection as compared to wine, which is also rich in anthocyanin. Red wine contains 2.04 mmol of free radical absorbing antioxidants, and blueberries have 2.42 mmol of these protective plant compounds.
• Blueberry extract is used to enhance nighttime visual ability, promote quicker adjustment to darkness and restore visual acuity after exposure to glare. It lowers the risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and prevents occurrence of this severe form of vision-destroying disease.
• Blueberries minimize the effects of age-related diseases such as, Alzheimer's or dementia, and protects the brain from oxidative stress.
• Blueberries contain ellagic acid and highly soluble fiber pectin, which blocks the metabolic pathway, that can lead to cancer. It also helps in reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
• The anthocyanin and phenolic components in blueberry subdues the risk of colon cancer, and causes apoptosis (programmed cell death). These components increase the DNA fragmentation, and reduce the cancer cell proliferation by half.
• Blueberries include a flavonoid called kaempferol, which reduces the risk of ovarian cancer in women by 40%.

Uses
Blueberries are used fresh or as processed frozen fruits, juices and dried berries. These berries are used to make jellies, jams, pies, cereals and muffins. Premium blueberry jam is made from wild blueberries and is quite popular in Maine, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

Blueberries are luscious, low in calories and used to manufacture different consumer products. Hence, they are also known as superfruits.