Blueberry Vaccinium spp

Blueberries are a naturally delicious treat that can be enjoyed without hesitation - a totally guilt free pleasure. There are many different species of North American blueberries adapted to thrive in climates from Alaska (Vaccinium alaskaense) to the Carolina farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). Blueberries are of special interest in the functional/medicinal food category due to the high levels of anthocyanin and polyphenolic antioxidant compounds they contain. Blueberries have a higher antioxidant capacity (in some cases as high as 40-50 mmoles TE/g) than other healthy fruits and vegetables; by comparison, kale, strawberries and spinach have relatively high antioxidant capacities of 17.7, 15.4 and 12.6 mmol TE/g.

Blueberries are very similar in composition to the cranberry and the European species bilberry. While bilberries, Vaccinium myrtillus, have a stronger history of use in folk medicine, and have been the subject of much more scientific study, there is no strong reason to suggest the Vaccinium spp. of North America are slackers in comparative health benefits. People might well turn to their own backyard species of blueberry as more information comes to light. Fruits harvested at the peak of ripeness have the highest amount of antioxidants compounds, no matter whether your local cultivar is Rabbiteye, Lowbush, Highbush, or Bilberry. ¹

Recent research suggests that fresh or frozen whole blueberry fruits blended in smoothies may be more important in maintaining health and athletic performance than consuming generic dietary supplements, so blend away!² In one small study blueberry juice appeared to improve memory function in older adults with early memory impairment. This may suggest that blueberries may be useful in delaying the memory impairment and cognitive decline associated with aging. ³