Bilberry or huckleberry is native to Northern Europe but is also grown in other parts of the world, such as North America. Sweet in flavor, bilberries are used fresh or in recipes such as jellies and muffins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports. Bilberries bring more to the table than sweet taste, as they are loaded with health benefits and have positive effects on several health conditions. Along with being consumed fresh, bilberry extract is also available as a dietary supplement in capsule or tablet form.
Effects on Diabetes
People who have been diagnosed with diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Bilberries have been found in scientific studies to have anti-diabetic effects. One such study was performed by researchers at Chubu University in Aichi, Japan. Using diabetic mice as subjects, the researchers tested the effects of bilberry extract against high blood sugar and insulin resistance. The results of the study, published in the March 2010 issue of "Journal of Nutrition," show that bilberry extract lowers blood sugar levels while increasing insulin sensitivity. Researchers conclude that bilberry fruit may help prevent and treat diabetes.
Effects on Eye Health
Bilberries have long been known throughout history for their effects on eye health. Back in World War II, fighter pilots noted that they had better night vision after they ate bilberry jam, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Two eye conditions that often accompany aging are cataracts and macular degeneration, as reported by University of Illinois' "The Eye Digest." When researchers in Russia tested bilberry extract against these eye conditions they noted it had positive effects. The results of the study, published in the 2005 issue of "Advances in Gerontology," show that the rats who received bilberry extract supplementation for three months had no sign of cataracts or macular degeneration, unlike the control group, which developed both conditions in more than 70 percent of the rats. Researchers conclude that long-term consumption of bilberry extract may help prevent both cataracts and macular degeneration.
Anti-Cancer Effects
Bilberries contain anthocyanins, which are the pigment compounds that give the berries their dark color. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, anthocyanins are also powerful antioxidants that may help protect the body from cancer. Researchers at the University of Kuopio in Finland tested the effects of anthocyanin-rich berries against cancer cells in a lab. What they found was that bilberry had the highest content of anthocyanins, and bilberry also performed the best at stopping the growth of cancer cells. The results of the study, published in the Feb. 21, 2007, issue of "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," also show that bilberry initiates cancer cell death.
References
- USDA Plant Guide: Cascade Bilberry
- American Heart Association: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
- PubMed: Journal of Nutrition: Dietary Anthocyanin-rich Bilberry Extract Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Insulin Sensitivity
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bilberry
- University of Illinois: The Eye Digest: Aging Eye Diseases
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