Bilberry, is one of the key extracts included in our Atone Longevity Supplement. Maybe it’s one of the ingredients you’ve noticed and wondered what exactly it’s health giving properties are? We thought we’d use our blog as a means to explore some of the specific ingredients in our blends to shed some light on what it is they do and how they can benefit us.
Bilberry extract is known to be a potent anti-oxidant which research over the years has linked it to as a preventative to various illnesses such as fighting the onset of cancer, in the treatment diabetes, improving blood flow and circulation, the enhancement of eye health, reduction of infection in the urinary tract, treatment of kidney stones, and in improving the digestive system – amongst other things! Of course, this is a lot of attributes and so it depends on the dose and in which manner it is administered to achieve these various results.
So what exactly is Bilberry?
This is a plant that is known for its medicinal properties. Though we are learning about these properties more recently, not all of this information is new to us. Our forefathers have been using extracts of this plant for generations. Today however, we are discovering its many benefits with more in-depth research and analysis.
The Bilberry itself
The bilberry is also referred to as the European blueberry. In 19th century England, these plants were popularly referred to as “black-hearts” according to Thomas Hardy’s 1878 novel The Return of the Native. Bilberry is a close relative of the blueberry and cranberry. It is a thick shrub and it grows to about one foot high. It gives a delicate flower that varies in colour and shape according to the exact species.
Where can you find Bilberry Herb?
You will find bilberries at a place where the soil is acidic, or where there is a lack of nutrients. Because of this, bilberries are usually found in the subarctic regions. These plants almost always grow naturally in the wild – rarely will you find somebody who is growing them, because it is usually very difficult to grow the bilberry plant. Fruits from the plant are then collected from accessible lands. There are some private gardens, however, where the herb grows naturally. The countries where you will find it are Finland, Sweden, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, and certain areas of England. It is also seen growing in Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia and Poland.
Research is continuously being carried out to know more about the many health benefits of the bilberry plant. Although we know quite a few of them already, researchers are predicting that soon we will discover many more, and be able to put these benefits to other practical uses.
To know more about our Longevity blend containing Bilberry extract, click here.
