
Blueberry
Lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) · Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Blueberries are stars of the day – the ripe flower leaves a five-point star on each berry, too many to count and invisible at night. Because of this, blueberries contain a lot of vitamin A – carotene, which improves our eyesight in the dark. They are recommended for pilots and astronauts, but will also come in useful for those who more often count stars on a computer monitor. Alongside vitamin A, blueberries also hold a lot of other valuable vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that help combat signs of aging. Let’s give our bodies what they need, not just in July - the blueberry month - but all year round with the help of juice!
Blueberries have a positive effect on the body – they paint the tongue beautifully and make us healthier:
-
restore retina cells
-
have a positive effect on brain function and mental ability
-
lower cholesterol levels
-
reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
-
improve blood circulation
-
protect the body from blood clots – strokes and heart attacks
-
stimulate the pancreas
-
heal urinary tract and kidney inflammations
-
reduce the risk of cancer
-
help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
The regular use of blueberries helps prevent and recover from illnesses such as:
-
diabetes
-
cardiovascular disease
-
varicose vein enlargement
-
diarrhoea and constipation
-
thrombosis, myocardial infarction
-
chronic cough and lung diseases
Interesting facts on blueberries:
-
The blueberry’s Latin name (Vaccinium angustifolium) comes from the Latin word vacca – cow, because in the year 1700, Captain James Cook noticed that cows are found of these berries.
-
When adding frozen blueberries to food, do not let them thaw! This will not only help retain the berries’ texture, but will also prevent them from colouring the food.
-
In the USA, July is celebrated as National Blueberry Month.
-
In the past, painters made purple paint from pine forest blueberries, and violet from spruce forest blueberries.
-
Blueberry fields are rich in nectar. When they are in flower, bees carry about 2 kg of honey to each beehive.