Which is better blueberry or bilberry?
We all know that blueberry is a good source of antioxidants. Well, bilberry has 4x more antioxidant level than blueberry. This is due to bilberry having much higher levels of the anthocyanins (cyanidin, delphinidin, and peonidin), while blueberry is only richer in one subtype of anthocyanin – malvidin.
Is a bilberry the same as a blueberry?
Bilberries are smaller and darker than blueberries, appearing to be almost black with a hint of blue. They are dark inside too, whereas blueberries have a pale green flesh. Bilberries are more intensely flavoured than blueberries, but they are softer and juicier than blueberries making them difficult to transport.
Where do I find bilberry?
Bilberry grows wild in the arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The bilberry shrub produces round blue berries also known as bilberries.
What are the benefits of taking bilberry?
Bilberries are small European blueberries that are rich in many nutrients and beneficial compounds. They’re linked to reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, as well as improved vision and heart health. They may even improve brain function, fight off bacteria, and reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Are bilberries healthier than blueberries?
Bilberries have about 4x more antioxidants than blueberries! In fact, several scientific studies showed that bilberries have unique health benefits (e.g., protect against cancer, aging, and heart disease), mainly due to their high levels of antioxidants (e.g., anthocyanins).
Can you still get bilberries?
Bilberries are usually found growing on the high ground and also in hard to reach places. It is, for this reason, you will rarely find bilberries in large quantities, or perhaps at all, in the store. A few northern supermarkets do make them available when in season.
What is the best form of bilberry?
Bilberry extract
You may eat bilberries fresh or dried, and you can make bilberry tea using fresh or dried berries. Bilberry extract should be standardized to contain 25% anthocyanidin. The extract contains the highest percentage of anthocyanosides, making it the strongest form of bilberry.
Is bilberry poisonous?
When taken by mouth: Eating dried, ripe bilberry fruit in typical food amounts is likely safe for most people. Bilberry fruit extracts are possibly safe when taken in doses up to 160 mg daily for up to 6 months.
Who should not take bilberry?
Do not take bilberry without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:
- insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or.
- medicine used to prevent blood clots, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin, or warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
What are the side effects of taking bilberry?
Common side effects of Bilberry include:
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia): weight loss, muscle loss, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite.
- Anemia.
- Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Excitation at high doses (animal studies)
- May affect blood sugar levels.
How do you identify bilberries?
The bright green leaves are oval shaped, often with a wavy margin and are finely toothed. The purple to black fruit ripens from August through to September, growing within the whole shrub, making them more difficult to pick. They’re globular shaped 5-6mm in length and width with an indented tip.
Does bilberry have side effects?
Bilberry fruit and extract are considered generally safe, with no known side effects. However, bilberry leaf and extract should not be taken in large quantities over an extended period of time because the tannins they contain may cause severe weight loss, muscle spasms, and even death.
What’s the difference between a blueberry and a bilberry?
It is as nutritious as blueberries, but whereas blueberries are easy to grow and are found around the world, bilberries are much rarer. Bilberries are also known as European blueberry, blaeberry, whortleberry, bulberry, whinberry, winberry, trackleberry, huckleberry, and fraughan in Ireland.
Where do bilberry berries grow in the UK?
It is seldom cultivated. The berries grow profusely on small, wiry shrubs, mainly on high ground in the north and west of the British Isles. Due to its small size and blue color, it is often mistaken for a blueberry. The bilberry tastes quite different from blueberries.
Which is better Bracken Hill blueberry or bilberry jam?
Bracken Hill Bilberry jam is amazing – MASSES more flavour than blueberry efforts that others sometimes pass off as bilberry. Almost time to buy another 4 pots I think – probably a good job there is no discount for larger orders or I would be sorely tempted! Rated 5out of 5
What kind of fruit is a bilberry tree?
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking. The bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) is a round, flat-topped, delicious tiny fruit that grows in the wild. It is seldom cultivated.