The Benefits Of Wild Blueberries

Blueberries are produced from the flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium. In North America, the northern highbush blueberry is the most common cultivated species. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council says that blueberries contain a high amount of fiber, vitamin C and manganese. Blueberries also contain a high amount of antioxidants, most notably anthocyanins, which also give blueberries their color. Lowbush blueberries are referred to as "wild" blueberries. A study in the October 2001 issue of "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" reports that the content of antioxidants in lowbush blueberries exceeds that in highbush species.

Reduces Cognitive Decline

A small preliminary study in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" reports daily consumption of wild blueberry juice for 12 weeks improved memory performance in older adults. Other studies in humans have not been conducted to determine the efficacy of blueberries and their products for the treatment or prevention of cognitive decline in various diseases like dementia.

Anti-Cancer Activity

A review in the October 2008 issue of "Cancer Letters" reports that anthocyanins have consistently shown anti-cancer activity in animal studies; however, scientific evidence of their chemoprotective effects in humans is lacking. No human studies have specifically evaluated the effects of blueberries on cancer prevention, although in general studies show that consumption of fruits and vegetables with high levels of antioxidants reduces cancer risk.

Obesity Prevention

A study in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" reports that anthocyanins purified from blueberries and blueberry juice reduced markers of obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet. The blueberry juice was not as effective as the purified anthocyanins. No studies in humans have yet evaluated the efficacy of blueberries or their components in stimulating weight loss, but a study does suggest it improves cardiovascular health in obese subjects. This study, published in the September 2010 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition," reports that consuming 50 g of freeze-dried blueberries daily for 8 weeks reduced markers, including cholesterol levels, of cardiovascular disease risk in obese men and women.

Insulin Sensitivity

The response of tissues to the hormone insulin, which regulates glucose metabolism, is commonly decreased in people who are obese and/or pre-diabetic. A study in the October 2010 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition" reports that obese men and women who consumed a drink containing bioactive compounds isolated from blueberries twice a day for six weeks exhibited increased insulin sensitivity.

Urinary-Tract Infections

The University of Maryland Medical Center says that blueberry juice contains substances that inhibit binding of bacteria to the bladder. No studies have further evaluated the effectiveness of blueberry juice for treating and preventing urinary-tract infections.