Portland, ME – For the 14th consecutive year, leading researchers from the United States, Europe and Canada gathered in Bar Harbor, Maine, to collaborate and share information to continue efforts to understand and discover the benefits of many of the compounds found in Wild Blueberries.
The research discussed by 16 leading experts at this year's Wild Blueberry Health Research Summit shed light on the benefits of Wild Blueberry compounds as they relate to eye health, cancer prevention, brain health, diabetes, aging well and cardiovascular health. Additional research on these and other topics is forthcoming in the future.
“Wild Blueberry health research indicates a wide range of potential human health benefits from this single berry,” said David Bell, Executive Director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. “Since the first Summit 14 years ago, the breadth and depth of the health research has really accelerated – we keep learning more and more about the benefits of this amazing little berry.”
Research Continues to Find Benefits of Compounds in Wild Blueberries
Among the findings discussed at this year's summit are several focusing on aging, memory and diabetes.
** Dr. Robert Krikorian of the University of Cincinnati reported on two clinical studies at the university's Cognitive Disorders Center investigating the effect of blueberry supplementation on memory and brain function in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment, a risk condition for Alzheimer’s disease. These ongoing trials follow a small, prior study that demonstrated improved cognitive function in subjects who consumed Wild Blueberry juice.
** Barbara Shukitt-Hale from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging has demonstrated improvement in memory tasks and motor function in blueberry-fed animals, as well as the growth of new brain cells, decrease in inflammation and other markers of brain health.
**Catherine Champagne, Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology/Dietary Assessment at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, discussed the positive effect of blueberry diet on insulin sensitivity and a proposed clinical study that will measure the effect of blueberries on blood pressure, blood vessel wall function and other metabolic markers in a population with metabolic syndrome that is at high-risk for cardiovascular disease.
Wild Blueberries Lead the Way
Researchers have long known that Wild Blueberries are among the leaders in healthy foods high in antioxidants.
Wild Blueberries also score higher than other fruits, including cultivated blueberries, in a number of critical health-related areas. Wild Blueberries rate higher in total phenolics, in anthocyanins, and in flavonoids.
Each of these topics generates significant research on its own, and scientists are finding that Wild Blueberries are unique because they contain high amounts of so many of these compounds in one package.
A Natural Part of a Healthy Diet
For consumers faced with myriad choices and often confusing claims, the message is simple: eating Wild Blueberries is a convenient, delicious and versatile way to get a daily dose of antioxidants and improve overall diet health. They are harvested at the peak of freshness and antioxidant power, quickly frozen and available in grocery store freezer cases year-round.
Wild Blueberries are convenient and can be used in any meal. Quick and simple recipes for snacks, sides, entrees, breakfast and desserts are availableat www.wildblueberries.com.
Susan Davis, MS RD, Nutrition Advisor for the Wild Blueberry Association of North America notes that “we’ve always known that fruits and berries, such as Wild Blueberries, are good for you, and now the science is mounting to prove it. The great news for consumers is how easy it is for them to take advantage of all of these wide-ranging studies by making frozen Wild Blueberries part of their healthy diets.”
About the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (www.wildblueberries.com)
The Wild Blueberry Association of North America is a trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine and Canada, dedicated to bringing the Wild Blueberry health story and unique Wild Advantages to consumers and the trade worldwide.
For news, recipes, and related health information about Wild Blueberries, visit www.wildblueberries.com, and follow www.facebook.com/wildblueberries and www.twitter.com/WildBBerries4U.
Source: Wild Blueberry Association of North America
