A plant called the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) yields berries that resemble those of the American blueberry. The leaves and dried fruit are both utilised medicinally.
Tannins are a class of compounds found in bilberries. They might aid in reducing edoema. Additionally, the compounds in bilberry leaves may aid in improving circulation in diabetics and lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Bilberry is used by people to treat a variety of diseases, including high blood pressure, leg swelling brought on by poor circulation, night vision, and many others. But none of these uses is backed by strong scientific data.
Bilberries: 9 New Health Benefits
- Nutrient-dense
Bilberries are a nutrient-dense berry, like the majority of berries.
They are frequently referred to be European blueberries since they share a plant family with blueberries and have a similar nutritional profile (3Trusted Source).
Accordingly, one cup (148 grammes) of bilberries should include about 85 calories, 15 grammes of naturally occurring sugar, and 4 grammes of fibre.
They probably contain about 85% water, similar to blueberries, and significant levels of manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin K (4Trusted Source).
- Include wholesome plant ingredients:
Antioxidants, which are healthy plant chemicals that help shield your body from harm and disease, are abundant in bilberries.
Berries, particularly blueberries, are among the foods with the highest antioxidant content, according to research. Bilberries and blueberries are closely related, therefore they probably have similar qualities (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
Bilberries are a particularly good source of anthocyanins, the potent flavonoid antioxidant that gives red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables their distinctive colour (1Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source), in addition to vitamin C and phenolic acids (1Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
The majority of these berries’ beneficial properties are thought to be caused by anthocyanins.
Bilberries should therefore provide about 85 calories, 15 grammes of naturally occurring sugar, and 4 grammes of fibre per serving.
3. May improve vision
Bilberries are most popular for their purported ability to improve vision, particularly night vision.
A few small studies have researched these berries’ effects on night vision but concluded that this benefit is not supported by strong evidence (8Trusted Source).
That said, bilberries may benefit your vision in other ways.
Other studies suggest that supplementing with 160–480 mg of powdered bilberry extract daily may reduce eye dryness and other symptoms of eye fatigue caused by working with video display terminals (9Trusted Source, 10, 11Trusted Source).
However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
- May lower blood sugar levels:
Bilberry extract appears effective in lowering HbA1c and total and LDL cholesterol (14Trusted Source).
Anthocyanins in bilberries are mainly associated with oxidative stress inhibition and gut microbiota modulation (15Trusted Source).
Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants and play an important role in the prevention of metabolic disease and type 2 diabetes (16Trusted Source).
An 8-week study showed that a diet enriched with fresh bilberries increased insulin secretion in adults with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease (17Trusted Source).
However, more human studies are needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
Introducing Forever iVision
Vitamins C and E help to protect cells from oxidative stress, zinc helps to maintain normal vision, and Forever iVision, an eye supplement, also contains a potent combination of bilberry extract and Lutemax 2020, which contains zeaxanthin and lutein that have undergone extensive clinical testing.
Complete eye support for the digital age.
• Contains eye supporting vitamins: all three necessary carotenoids: lutein, RR zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin
• Gluten-free
INGREDIENTS LIST
- Sunower oil
- fish gelatin
- humectant (glycerol)
- Lutemax® 2020 – marigold ower (Tagetes erecta) extract (lutein and zeaxanthin)
- vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- vitamin E [d-alpha-tocopherol, soybean oil], stabiliser (beeswax)
- water, bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extract
- carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) seed oil [carrot seed oil
- canola oil, sunower seed oil], zinc (zinc oxide)
- black carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) juice, vitamin A (beta carotene)
- Allergy advice: for allergens, see ingredients in bold.
USAGE
Take two softgels daily