by Elisabeth Cook

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 16, 2008

A bilberry, to the untrained eye, is a dark and unassuming little fruit. Growing neat and compact on a shrub barely knee-high, it appears unlikely to add anything substantial to your diet. And there is, of course, the ridiculous-sounding name to get past. You might already be thinking "What the heck are bilberries? Don't you mean blueberries?" European blueberries, that is. Whether you are American or simply unfamiliar, don't be fooled. For many inhabitants of England or Scandinavia the mention of bilberries is likely to conjure up childhood visions of a grandmother hard at work in her kitchen, making jams and tarts. Like blueberries, they belong to the Vaccinium genus, a group of red and blue fruits with serious health benefits.

The bilberry has a long history of use in the traditional medicine sector for everything from diabetes to hemorrhoids to cataracts. Hildegard of Bingen, a famous nun and herbalist, recommended it for inducing menstruation. While much of its reputation has been based on anecdotes, as in the case of British WWII pilots claiming it improved their night vision, recent scientific findings give us reason to anticipate the promise of this deceptively humble-looking food. The key to the bilberry's medicinal value lies in its chemical structure. Its dark color is due to the presence of anthocyanosides, extremely powerful antioxidants. You have probably already heard quite a lot about the potential of antioxidants to reduce the risk of or possibly even cure various forms of cancer. What you should know in addition is that anthocyanosides are on the cutting edge of such speculation, the bilberry being a prime focus because it is such a rich source of them. Researchers in the UK have begun studies aimed at determining whether bilberry extract can be used in the prevention or treatment of liver and colorectal cancer. Scientists at the University of Leicester have already found that the extract reduces the development of colorectal cancer in a laboratory setting. Major clinical trials may well appear in the future, but the meantime, there is much existing evidence to suggest that regular consumption of bilberries offers a decrease in your risk of the disease.

The anthocyanosides in bilberries are being considered for other reasons as well. Animal studies have shown that their presence may have the ability to strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation, reducing the risk of heart disease. This is a medical milestone, as it also means they could be effective in reinforcing the blood-brain barrier and controlling symptoms of diseases associated with a weakness in the barrier, such as multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. As if that weren't enough, bilberries have been found to be helpful with less serious conditions such as digestive problems and menstrual cramps, possibly because they are packed with tannins, plant substances with anti-inflammatory properties. They are an especially popular treatment for diarrhea in Europe. A study done in California even revealed bilberry, when combined in a formula with other fruit extracts, to be effective in the inhibition of H. pylori bacteria, the primary known cause of peptic ulcers. With the number of bonuses stemming from these little do-gooders of the nutritional world, can you afford to pass them up?

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