Whilhe I spend a lot of time out and about on the little farm I have, I often take my daughter and go out hiking to find new and interesting things. Well, a few years back we stumbled upon so many wild blueberries, we could not find an end to the plants. The berries are quite small, though we were finding many at a 1/4 inch. They were sooo delicious. Since then we have made it part of our routine to go out every morning as soon as they start producing, before the birds get to them. If we get started as soon as the plant starts to produce, we can get enough off that the deer do not bother with them. We only collect on about 2 acres so there are 13 more for the deer to feed off, on our property alone.
I always knew that blueberries were a SUPER FOOD flush with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. I knew that they were used as dye. I knew that they were an immune booster as well, what I didn't know were the specifics. When I started to read about the benefits of blueberries I was shocked and so happy I loved them. So I decided to grow some domesticated berries, bigger, juicer and easier to harvest in my little garden area than out fighting ticks and chiggers.
PLANT BASICS
Blueberries are a cold hardy perennial. There are two main types of plants, the low-bush (wild) and the high bush (domesticated). There is a third type, but it is fairly rare. Each type is packed full of all kinds of nutrients. They enjoy partial shade and well drained soils. They love neutral to moderately acidic soil. They love water, and when in a drought situation they produce far less berries but still thrive as a plant.
INVASIVENESS AND USES
In the wild blueberries are propagated through the droppings of birds and animals, it is not invasive unless it is left unchecked.
For many years blueberries have been said to curb a cold. Well they sure do more than that! I enjoy the blueberries on ice cream, in my oatmeal, in salads, on toast with butter, but most of all, I like them right off the bush.
There are those out there that do use blueberry as a facial mask! At StyleCraze, they discuss things like the use of these berries for all kinds of skin and hair treatments! It is actually a good read!
COMPOUNDS AND COMPONENTS
There are so many different ideas of what is included in that purple blue nugget of health, I have decided to give you a couple ideas and really go to National Institute of Health and the National Library of Medicine site to read about the actual ingredients. So according to Dr. Axe:
One cup of raw blueberries contains approximately: (19)
84 calories
21.4 grams carbohydrates
1.1 grams protein
0.5 gram fat
3.6 grams dietary fiber
28.6 micrograms vitamin K (36 percent DV)
0.5 milligram manganese (25 percent DV)
14.4 milligrams vitamin C (24 percent DV)
0.1 milligram vitamin B6 (4 percent DV)
0.1 milligram thiamine (4 percent DV)
0.1 milligram riboflavin (4 percent DV)
0.8 milligram vitamin E (4 percent DV)
0.1 milligram copper (4 percent DV)
Not mentioning many minerals, and chemical compounds. This is mainly vitamins!
BENEFITS
While I knew of some of the benefits of bluberries, I never really thought about what, in particular, they were good for, since I just love eating them, I didn't really care much. Now that I am a little older and, hopefully, wiser I see that a simple cup of these berries can help me with heart disease, cancer, bone strength, mental health, blood pressure, skin health and diabetes.
It is crazy, that while I was young, I was outdoors a lot, hiking, camping and even stopping at a random stream for a quick dip, and without even thinking about it, I was supplementing my future. Picking from local wild berries that I learned to identify, nothing better than camping and finding a sumac tree, picking the berries and making sumac lemonade for those hot days. Fresh blueberry pancakes and trail nibble. It was all making my body healthy and strong. My kids have done the same, so they will grow up very healthy and active.
According to a BMJ Study, blueberries have a significant impact on controlling type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest the presence of heterogeneity in the associations between individual fruit consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes. Greater consumption of specific whole fruits, particularly blueberries, grapes, and apples, is significantly associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas greater consumption of fruit juice is associated with a higher risk
This plant also has proven anti-aging properties. According to a study posted by the National Institute of Health and the National Library of Medicine:
Fruit and vegetable extracts that have high levels of flavonoids also display high total antioxidant activity such as spinach, strawberries and blueberries. It is reported that the dietary supplementations (for 8 weeks) with spinach, strawberry or blueberry extracts in a control diet were also effective in reversing age-related deficits in brain and behavioral function in aged rats.80 A recent study demonstrates that the tea catechins carry strong anti-aging activity and consuming green-tea rich in these catechins, may delay the onset of aging
Bluberries also ranked as a cognitive anti-degeneration supplement. National Institute of Health and the National Library of Medicine, posted results for the ability of blueberries to slow cognitive decay.
Results
Greater intakes of blueberries and strawberries were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline
National Institute of Health and the National Library of Medicine, also posted a study showing that blueberries were a great food source to increase short term memory:
Short-term blueberry-enriched diet prevents and reverses object recognition memory declines
This published study also states the following to be blueberry benefits:
Blueberries are a rich source of flavonoids, notably anthocyanins, caffeic acid, flavanols and hydroxycinnamates
The consumption of blueberries has been reported to prevent oxidative stress, inhibit inflammation, kidney injury, and improve vascular health
A recent study has demonstrated that blueberry supplementation can alleviate age-related behavioral deficits and high-fat diet-related behavioral declines.
The protein kinases, such as MAP kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and transcriptional activator cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB), are involved to mediate the beneficial effects of learning and memory produced by various phytochemicals present in blueberries
Also due to the blueberry having a high fiber content, it helps your digestive tract. It stops constipation, helps clean the colon (assisting in the prevention of colon cancer), and it will make you feel full which can assist you in weight loss.
Amazing isn't it. I am sure I have not even touched the "real" additional benefits.
ANIMAL USES
Blueberries are often consumed by deer, birds and rabbits, this is an indication that these animals not only find them delicious, they benefit from their consumption. I am going to be feeding a few of my rabbits the leaves and the berries as a treat once per day and see what I find. I would guess as well that goats and chickens will benefit as well. Though I was unable to find any substantiated evidence I will say that with the amount of beneficial compounds in the berry and plant, it is most likely an immune booster for these animals.
WARNINGS
People who use blood-thinners, such as warfarin, should speak to their doctor before increasing their intake of blueberries, as the high vitamin K content can affect blood clotting
freezing process can diminish the potency of the blueberry's health benefits. One study showed that over the course of 6 months in storage, the anthocyanin degraded by 59 percent.
Well please up-vote and follow if you like my content. I will continue to post similar articles on plants, homegrown foods, gardening and homesteading ideas. Again thanks for dropping in. Remember that this is not medical advice nor do I prescribe anything to anyone. This post is for educational purposes only. Your body is your temple, treat it well. Have a great garden!
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-blueberries.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287710.php
