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Visit the USHBC web site to link to the complete scientific references: http://www.ushbc.org/health.htm.
Send us an e-mail if you would like copies of the original references or for further documentation. bberry@blueberry.org

Blueberry Milk May Lower Blood Pressure.

Finland's largest dairy group, Valio launched a blueberry milk product. According to the company, "Evolus" is the first blood-pressure lowering food product in Europe and has been the subject of two independent, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies, including one study by the Finnish National Public Health Institute. We are finding more and more primary research and interest in blueberries from Scandinavian countries.

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Antioxidant Capacity, Vitamin C, Phenolics, and Anthocyanins after Fresh Storage of Small Fruits.

Antioxidant Capacity, Vitamin C, Phenolics, and Anthocyanins after Fresh Storage of Small Fruits. Research was conducted to determine the effects of storage time and temperature on the anthocyanin, phenolics and vitamin C content and ORAC of strawberries, raspberries, and highbush and lowbush blueberries. The antioxidant capacity of blueberries was found not to diminish in storage. In fact, there was a slight increase in the anthocyanin level in the highbush blueberries studied after storage. It was interesting to note that the ORAC values of the blueberries studied were higher than in previous. This is important in that now we believe that blueberries and blueberry products can help provide the benefits regardless of the form. Consumers in Iceland should feel assured that they will obtain the benefits of blueberries even after the flight from North America!

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Blueberries and Eyesight.

For decades we have heard anecdotal information on how blueberries help aid eyesight. Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber pilots in World War II were reported to consume blueberries to help night vision. Other studies in Israel and Eastern Europe have confirmed that blueberries help eyesight. But, a recent study in Japan has scientifically documented the benefits of blueberries to help reduce eyestrain. All over Japan, consumers buy small vials of blueberry juice to obtain the benefits. An editorial cartoon was published in the Asahi Shibun, the leading newspaper in Japan encouraging blueberry use by office workers. The Japan study showed that blueberry consumption reduced eyestrain and improved weak eyesight. Most believe that the substance, anthocyanin in the blue pigment of the blueberry is responsible for the eyesight improvement.

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New Research identifies substance which prevents urinary tract infections.

The consumption of blueberry juice has been recommended for the prevention of urinary tract infections. The effect is due not to the highly acidic nature of blueberries but to specific compounds that inhibit the adherence of Escherichia coli to uroepithelial cells. Blueberries serve as a Teflon like coating that keep bacteria from adhering to the walls of urinary tract.

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Blueberry Flavonoids in Lieu of Wine?.

A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin using ProVex CV -- a supplement containing extracts of grape seeds, grape skins, Ginko biloba, billberries and quercetin -- indicated that the flavonoids act as antioxidants, countering the artery-damaging potential of free radicals.

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Blueberry Antioxidant Information published in Journal.

Dr. Ronald Prior's research paper titled: Antioxidant Capacity as Influenced by total Phenolic and Anthocyanin Content, Maturity and Variety of Vaccinium Species, was published in Volume 46, Number 7 of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. His work provides very favorable endorsements of blueberries including: "In general, blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidant phytonutrients of the fresh fruits and vegetables we have studied." (Page 2686); "The polyphenolic components present within blueberries may have multiple health benefits which at this point are difficult to understand." (Page 2692); Consumption of 1/2 cup of blueberries/day would increase ORAC intake by 1-3.2 mmol, depending upon the blueberry variety and maturity. Thus, the ORAC of the blueberry source can have marked effects on the total daily ORAC intake" (Page 2692). http://pubs.acs.org/journals/jafcau/index.html

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Consumer Tips : Here are a few tips on using and storing blueberries!

Freshness : Look at the outer powdery “bloom” of the blueberry. This is natural and desirable.

Size, flavor. Remember, blueberries are cultivated from the wild. Differences occur from cultivar to cultivar just like blueberries in the wild. Highbush blueberries are big and plump, but you may also find smaller and really flavorful berries! Variety is the spice of life!

Timing. You may very well see blueberries in Norway almost year-round like in North America. In April the harvest generally begins in the Deep South of the USA in Florida. The harvest moves north and ends in British Columbia, Canada in September. Some of our shippers import blueberries from the Southern Hemisphere in the months that we do not produce so you may very well see blueberries 12 months out of the year!

Recipes. The NABC maintains an extensive library of blueberry recipes and these are all accessible from out web site at: http://www.blueberry.org/recepies.htm

Norwegian Blueberry Soup -http://www.recipesource.com/soups/soups/22/rec2272.html

Contact.

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• Tel: 650-340-8311.
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