The Benefits of Bilberries

In your search for that fountain of youth, remember to protect your aging eyes. Don’t be surprised if your alternative health practitioner recommends Bilberries.It’s yet another gift from mother nature. Bilberries are closely related to what many of us think of as blueberries. They resemble the fruit in many ways, but typically grow wild in parts of Northern Europe, the mountainous regions of the Ukraine, and parts of Northern Asia. They grow in nutrient-poor acidic soil where little else will grow, and are actually very difficult to cultivate in private gardens. The berries are extremely delicate, making them easily spoiled and damaged – which also makes it hard to consume them fresh unless they’re pulled directly from a shrub and eaten immediately. The flesh of the bilberries is a dark plum color, and the skin is almost black with a purple tint, making them extremely high in antioxidants.During World War II, many English pilots frequently spread bilberry jam on toast and consumed it in large quantities as it was said to give people better night vision. Laboratory testing has shown that bilberries do have the ability to prevent and reverse macular degeneration in people who consume a lot of this fruit. Macular degenerationis a form of vision loss associated with aging where a person loses sight in the center of their field of vision, due to deterioration of the retinas. Very few foods actually have the ability to help prevent and reverse macular degeneration, but they are typically foods high in carotenoids – one of the anti-oxidants found in bilberries.If you are considering using bilberries to help protect your eyes as you age, you can consume them in a variety of ways. You can ingest them whole or raw if you live in an area where they grow. In many parts of Europe they are sold frozen, and although they have been frozen, they still maintain their antioxidant integrity. You can also take bilberry in supplemental pill form. If you opt for the pill form of the bilberry extract, the recommended dosage is often one 80 mg pill a few times per week–it is not intended to be taken daily.One of the chief complaints of aging adults is the loss of vision, often as a result of macular degeneration. The carotenoids in bilberries have a proven ability to prevent and reverse the onset of macular degeneration in many adults.Which is why it’s rightfully considered one of the most effective natural supplement for protecting your eyes and keeping them young.