Blueberries – small berries with an unusually large amount of research
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Blueberries are part of daily life for many people here in the Nordic countries. A berry you pick in the forest, add to porridge or keep in the freezer all year round. At the same time, blueberries are also one of the most studied berries in nutrition and plant research. They contain an unusually rich mixture of natural plant substances that are interesting to investigate more closely. What is clear is that not all types of blueberries are the same from a nutritional perspective.
Wild blueberries and cultivated blueberries, what's the difference?
What is often called blueberries in Sweden is usually the wild forest blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) but called bilberry in English. It grows naturally in Nordic forests and is recognizable by the extra dark surface and inside. The larger blueberries that are often sold in stores, however, are usually American blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum ), sometimes called highbush blueberries. They are larger, firmer and lighter inside.
Two different blue colors
The difference isn't just about appearance. Wild blueberries generally contain more anthocyanins, a natural pigment that gives the berry its dark blue color. It's also why our fingers and tongue turn blue when we eat them.
American blueberries also contain anthocyanins, but often in lower concentrations. Therefore, they may be milder in flavor and easier to consume in larger quantities. Both types contain:
fiber
vitamin C
manganese
various polyphenols and plant substances
Exact levels vary depending on variety, soil, weather and how the berries are stored and processed.
Why is there so much research on blueberries?
One reason is that blueberries contain many different polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, which researchers have long been interested in studying.
Right now, these are the largest areas of blueberry research.
1. Vascular function
One of the most researched areas concerns the function of blood vessels.
Several studies have looked at how blueberries and anthocyanins can be linked to endothelial function, i.e. the ability of blood vessels to dilate and function normally. This is an active area of research where the results are still being discussed and explored further.
2. The brain
Blueberries have also been studied in relation to cognition and brain function.
Researchers have investigated whether certain plant compounds in blueberries can be linked to concentration, memory and mental performance. There is interest in both aging and how the brain is affected by oxidative stress over time.
Here too, the research is primarily about long-term relationships and biological mechanisms, not about immediate effects.
3. Blueberries, intestinal flora and metabolism
Because blueberries contain both fiber and polyphenols, they have also become interesting in research on gut flora and metabolism. Researchers are investigating, among other things, how different plant substances are broken down by bacteria in the gut and what substances are then formed in the body. This area is still relatively young, but is one of the fastest growing in nutrition research today.
Nordic berries in a larger context
Perhaps it is the combination of mundaneness and complexity that makes blueberries so fascinating. They are small, quite simple, and have been a part of Nordic food culture for a long time. At the same time, research continues to find new ways to study how natural substances in food interact with the body. In the umbrella of blueberries, we chose to use bilberries for nordic shape as they are the most nutrient dense type of blueberry.
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