Blueberry: Properties and Benefits
Blueberry
The appearance of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a small shrub, very common in forested areas, the typical result of the underbrush, usually about 50 cm high, oval, serrated leaves, belonging to the family of Ericaceous.
Blueberry usually grows in mountain areas, its flowering occurs in spring, while the fruits are harvested in August. Cranberries are distinguished in three different species: blueberry, red and blue.
Chemical Composition
The bilberry, in particular, is that which is recognized as many properties beneficial to the human body, its color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, pigments that are blue with different functions in the plant, including that of defend against free radicals and ultraviolet rays.
The main substances that we find in this small fruit are made of sugar, different kinds of acids, including citric acid and acid idrocinnamico. Also, the blueberry, contains vitamin B9, and the tannins are present in large amounts anthocyanins that make the tissue capillaries stronger and resilient. Oxalic acid is what gives the characteristic sour flavor of the blueberry.
Healing Properties and Benefits of Blueberries
Blueberry is recommended for all forms of intestinal disorders, liver disorders, a tendency to bleed for fragile capillaries, poor circulation in general and for the visually impaired. Idroccinnamico acid present in the blueberry is very important for our body, because it is able to counteract the carcinogenic substance produced in the digestive system.
The consumption of foods rich in antioxidants, see the blueberry, has an important role regarding the health of our body, these substances, in fact, develop a protective shield against our skin and especially in the fight against free radicals. In addition to their antioxidant properties, blueberries, are also used for other therapeutic properties, are able to treat the fatigue and the fragility of the capillaries.
The anthocyanins affect your heart and are able to increase the resistance of muscle, thanks to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, the blueberry reduces flatulence and diarrhea in a decisive battle.
In the field of ophthalmology, the consumption of cranberry, promotes production of rhodopsin, a protein which greatly improves the ability to see in low light conditions and improves adaptation to darkness. Finally, the fresh cranberry juice has properties that can improve diuresis.
Cranberry juice, Blueberry Juice and Infections
For many years people who are subject to disorders and infections related to urinary tract, consume cranberry juice to prevent possible risks. Finally, thanks to continuous studies on this, scientists were able to understand how the blueberry acts and what its action to combat infections.
The discovery comes from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where a group of researchers found that cranberry juice can alter the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary tract together creating a barrier that prevents microorganisms to approach potential cellular targets.
Basically two types of bacteria were exposed to different concentrations of cranberry juice, even at low concentrations it was shown that the juice could change some properties that have the function to indicate the ability of bacteria to bind to cells. Without cranberry juice, these values were negative, just to indicate that the attack on the cells would be quite probable.
Instead, thanks to cranberry juice, the value is positive, making the probability of attachment to cells, very unlikely.
Recipe Cranberry Juice
If you want to prepare an excellent home-made cranberry juice here’s a recipe very simple, useful in diarrhea and good integrator of both liquid nutrients.
Get 100 grams of fresh blueberries, lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey. Wash the blueberries and then adding a little of water if you want a more diluted juice. Finally squeeze the lemon and pour the cranberry juice in just smoothies, sweetened with honey.
Cranberry Juice, Properties
According to studies by scientists at Tufts University showed that for implementing and maintaining an effective defense against bacteria just half a glass of cranberry juice daily for a period of seven weeks. After this “cure”, 73% of patients examined in the study saw the symptoms of cystitis disappear. After discontinuing this treatment, 50% of patients having the infection reappear within three weeks.
According to a study conducted at Laval University in Quebec City, a daily cranberry juice, would promote the formation of HDL, better known as “good cholesterol” that counteracts the action of “bad cholesterol” or LDL.
Again according to this study, drinking 250 ml of cranberry juice per day increased by 7.6% the production of HDL with consequent decrease in LDL. All this thanks to the flavonoids contained in cranberry that have an important role in reducing atherosclerotic plaques.
Blueberry Pie Recipe
Ingredients for the dough
250 g. flour
20 g. sugar
170 g. butter, cut into small chips
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Cake from about 25 cm diameter
Ingredients for the filling:
500 g. fresh blueberries
2 eggs
120 g. sugar
120 g. cream
25 g. flour
Preparation:
Mix flour and butter, mixing well with your fingers up to form large crumbs and add sugar, egg and water and all mixed up again until you get a kind of ball. Lay the dough on a floured board and crush lightly with the palm of your hand.
Cover with a cloth and let rest for about an hour. Grease the cake tin, spread the dough with a rolling pin until you get a disc just larger than the cake pan (careful not to pull too), lined the cake tin with the dough flat and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Past the 30 minutes, arrange the berries on the dough. Mix eggs, sugar, cream and flour and overthrow all about blueberries. Put the cake in a preheated oven at about 200 ° for a period of 35 minutes. Eat cold.
Blueberry: properties and benefits
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