Blueberry Black - Cranberry

Generality

Description and botanical outline of the blueberry

The black bilberry (botanical name Vaccinium myrtillus - Fam. Ericaceae) is a small spontaneous shrub, very common in the mountain undergrowth of the northern hemisphere, where it grows between 900 and 1, 500-1, 800 meters. In the wild it is present both in the Alps and in the Apennines, while plantations are also found in hilly and flat areas, provided they are characterized by a ventilated climate and by soils rich in humus.

The fruits of the blueberry are small in size, spherical in shape and typically black-bluish in color. As we will see, thanks to the presence of its natural dyes, blueberry plays a very important nutraceutical and phytotherapeutic role.

Active ingredients of blueberry

Blueberries are particularly rich in:

Anthocyanins : glycosides with strong antioxidant properties
Catechinic tannins : substances with vasoconstrictor and mildly anti-inflammatory activity
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid : antioxidant water-soluble vitamin, necessary for the formation of collagen and immune support
Pectins : soluble dietary fibers that also act as a prebiotic.

Cranberry

Despite the inferior therapeutic effect, the fruits of the cranberry (botanical name Vaccinium vitis-idaea Fam. Ericacee) are also used in the phytotherapy field; however, their main application is still food, where they are used for the preparation of tasty jellies and fruit jams.

See also: properties of blueberry, myrtle, nutritional values blueberry, blueberry in herbal medicine, blueberry extracts in cosmetics

Indications

When to use blueberry?

Blueberry is considered a very effective nutraceutical food with many applications; the most important are:

Diarrhea
Pharyngitis: infections of the mouth and throat
Microcirculation: capillary fragility
Blemishes and disorders of venous insufficiency: cellulite, water retention, hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
Dysmenorrhea: painful menstruation.

Bilberry and diarrhea

Due to the presence of tannins and anthocyanins, whole fresh blueberry fruits are recommended in the treatment of diarrhea.

Blueberry and pharyngitis

As a decoction, in cases of inflammation of the mouth and throat; they also enjoy hypoglycemic properties (more evident in the decoction of leaves).

Bilberry and weak capillaries

Anthocyanosides are useful in the treatment of retinal damage and the capillary fragility and permeability of the eye.

According to a popular tale dating back to World War II, the pilots of the RAF (Great Britain Air Force) used to consume blueberry jam to sharpen the night vision during missions; despite this, the most recent clinical studies have not confirmed the efficacy of the fruit in treating the problems associated with twilight and night vision.

Blueberry against blemishes

The positive effect of blueberry anthocyanosides on increasing capillary resistance and decreasing vascular permeability (anti-edema action), associated with their mildly diuretic action, make bilberry a particularly useful food for treating cellulite, water retention and hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Blueberry and painful menstruation

Minor indications related to bilberry suggest its use also in case of dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation).

Secondary indications of blueberry

Secondly, blueberry is also recommended for other conditions such as:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Diabetes
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Skin infections
Gastrointestinal disorders (GI)
Kidney diseases
Urinary tract infections (UTI).

Property and Effectiveness

What benefit has blueberry shown during the studies?

Properties and effectiveness of blueberry fruits

According to the ORAC scale, developed by the US Department of Agriculture to quantify the antioxidant power of foods, blueberries are among the best natural sources of these substances, second only to black grape juice.

The enormous interest in antioxidants derives from their ability to effectively counteract the degenerative phenomena associated with aging, cardiovascular damage and even numerous forms of cancer.

Antocyanic glycosides are attributed anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation properties which, together with the vasodilatory and antioxidant action, constitute a real cure for the entire cardiovascular system.

Tannins help to improve diarrhea and irritation of the mouth and throat, reducing the swelling of the inflammation.

Despite the many indications on the use of the blueberry, the scientific community has demonstrated its efficacy only against diarrhea, pharyngitis, symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and microcirculation disorders.

Properties and effectiveness of blueberry leaves

There are some theories, supported by a limited number of studies, based on which the active ingredients of bilberry leaves could:

Reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Improve the blood circulation compromised by type 2 diabetes mellitus (for example in the eye).

Doses and Mode of Use

How to use blueberry?

The dose and manner of use of blueberry change according to the disorder to be treated and the form in which it is taken.

Diarrhea: 20-60 grams of fresh fruit a day is sufficient
Pharyngitis: you can use the decoction (prepared with 5-10 g of dry substance) of fruits 2-3 times a day
Chronic venous insufficiency: 173 mg / day of blueberry anthocyanins for 30 days reduce the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

100-480 mg for 6 months can help reduce swelling, pain and bruising of the CVI
If you want to use the leaves, you can make a decoction (5-10 minutes) with 1-2 teaspoons of chopped dry infused substance in 150 ml of water.

Retinal disorders: with 160 mg of bilberry extract twice a day, or eating fresh fruit regularly, an improvement in the condition was observed.

Side effects

There are no known side effects related to cranberry intake.

Contraindications

When should the blueberry not be used?

It is advisable to avoid the use of extracts and other over-the-counter products, both fruit-based and leaf-based, during pregnancy and lactation.

Bilberry is also contraindicated:

In potentially allergic subjects
In the case of pharmacologically treated diabetes: blueberry leaves could lower blood sugar by adding their effect to that of drugs.
Before surgery: for the same reason as described above, it is advisable to stop taking bilberry at least two weeks before a planned surgery.

Pharmacological Interactions

What drugs or foods can change the effect of blueberries?

The active ingredients of blueberry can interact moderately with the following drugs:

Antidiabetic drugs, making it possible to revise the dose: glimepiride, glyburide, insulin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, chlorpropamide, glipizide, tolbutamide
Anticoagulant drugs / antiplatelet drugs, increasing the chances of bruising and bleeding: clopidogrel, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin.

Precautions for Use

What do you need to know before taking the blueberry?

Blueberry fruit extracts are most likely safe, as long as they are taken orally and in adequate doses.

Blueberry leaves are considered unsafe when taken in large quantities or for prolonged periods.

Anti-Cellulite Recipe with Blueberry

The fruits of the blueberry and their juice are the protagonists of this Anti-Cellulite Video Recipe. To fill up with antioxidant and microcirculation protective substances without added sugar.