Top 10 health benefits of Blueberries

hey Buddies ,
onething, Blueberry could be "Falsa" or "Jamoon" but not "shehtooth" , i m sure abt this info boze there was a tree in my neighbor's home and i remember the shape of Shehtooth , that isnot like Blueberry ...

Lets start all over again and this time find out what is falsa called in English. That will solve it

Already doing that yaar but unfortunately not succed to find anything like that .... best of luck  to aall the people finding wat bluebberry is callled here in S.Asia ...

Regards
Umair

About Falsa : http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/phalsa.html

Medicinal Uses: The fruit is astringent and stomachic. When unripe, it alleviates inflammation and is administered in respiratory, [bgcolor=#ffff00]cardiac and blood disorders[/bgcolor], as well as in fever.

falsa is also good yaar ...

Quote from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsa

Grewia asiatica (Phalsa) is a species of Grewia native to southern Asia from India east to Cambodia, and widely cultivated in other tropical countries[1][2]. Grewia celtidifolia was initially considered a mere variety of Phalsa, but is now recognized as a distinct species.

It is a shrub or small tree growing to 8 m tall. The leaves are broadly rounded, 5-18 cm long and broad, with a petiole 1-1.5 cm long. The flowers are produced in cymes of several together, the individual flowers about 2 cm diameter, yellow, with five large (12 mm) sepals and five smaller (4-5 mm) petals. The fruit is an edible drupe 5-12 mm diameter, purple to black when ripe.[1][3]

  Tariq, i m feeling the same buddy , its more complicated and confusing than i thought ...

Umair

Whoa,now its more confusing then i thought  Canadian family are you a language specialist  .

Zaini.

On Yahoo Answers

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090513084153AAwV0fe

What is "falsa" called in english?

Ans: Phalsa
Grewia subinaequalis DC. syn. Grewia asiatica Mast.  (Biological name most probably)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morto...

Hahahahaha Tariq, Buddy while i was searching came across the same links Yahoo and hort perdue onez ... just check last fewposts of mine at page 1 of this thread ... in yahoo answers one user answered to this question and said its " Jamoon " .. in another side but same question at yahoo answers a member mentioning that it could be "shehtooth" ... wow ... its "maujan he maujan " time .. who know's he/she is eating blueberries ... lots regards .. i hope we will figure out wat blueberry is called here, bfore ending the season of bluebrries  ...

Best Regards
Umair

The reason you're not sure what blueberries are is because they are native to North America and most blueberries are grown there. While falsa is from the same genus, Vaccinium, it is not the same berry. The blueberry we know here in North America is described below.

http://www.blueberry.org/blueberries.htm

Over the decades, plant breeders and pathologists have worked to identify and enhance the desirable features of various cultivars of highbush blueberries. For decades "cultivated" or "highbush" blueberries have been improved through natural selection and plant breeding programs to produce an optimal blueberry with desirable flavor, texture and color for fresh and processed markets. Cultivated varieties have been enhanced to offer magnificent plump berries with deep, rich color and a delicious fruity flavor.

These blueberries are very sweet, which is the result of many years of cultivation. Other species are not so sweet and maybe not quite as palatable. I do think that other species would also be rich in antioxidants but not as easy to eat in quantity as the North American variety.

Thanks for your post Andy.

Hi Friends,

Berries whatever kind, are rich in antioxidants. So enjoy them whatever kind is available.

 

Thank you Andy for a detailed introduction of blueberries ..

& C.F Thanx to you too for sharing the fact ...

Regards
Umair

hi pals

Nice to know that any berries will do because I have just planted one type (hope it grows ).  It is the dark red type and has three seeds inside.  Enjoy your berries.

Take care
Jade

They are yummy, but pretty expensive. I eat them once a year. 


Btw, do you know red currants? These are extremely sour berries, but very tastfull with yoghurt.
http://www.voedingswaardetabel.nl/voedingswaarde/voedingsmiddel/?id=604
http://www.loefzutphen.nl/Foto_Klein/DSC02093.jpg
http://images.google.nl/images?hl=nl&q=aalbessen&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

1. The highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit: Blue Berries, being very rich in anti oxidants like Anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper (a very effective immune builder and anti-bacterial), selenium, zinc, iron (promotes immunity by raising haemoglobin and oxygen concentration in blood) etc.

boost up your immune system and prevent infections. Once your immunity is strong, you won’t catch colds, fever, pox and all such nasty viral and bacterial communicable diseases.


2. Neutralizes free radicals which can affect disease and aging in the body: Blue Berries bring you the brightest ray of hope, for they are laden with anti oxidants and rank number 1 in the world of anti oxidants.


This is mainly due to presence of Anthocyanin, a pigment responsible for the blue color of the blue berries. The abundance of vitamin-C is also a big factor for this as well.

 
3. Aid in reducing Belly Fat: A new University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study suggests that blueberries may help reduce belly fat and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.


So far, we know that the fruit works on rats, which were the test subjects. A blueberry-enriched powder was mixed into the rats' diet, which was either low-fat or high-fat rat chow. After 90 days, the rats with the blueberry-enriched diet had less abdominal fat, lower triglycerides, lower cholesterol and improved fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity. And their health was even better when combined with the low-fat diet.


That group had lower body weight, lower total fat mass and reduced liver mass than the rats on the high-fat diet. An enlarged liver is linked to obesity and insulin resistance, a hallmark of diabetes. Although more research is needed to confirm these results in humans, a related study presented at the same conference showed that men with risk factors for heart disease who drank wild blueberry juice for three weeks seemed to experience slight improvements in glucose and insulin control.


4. Helps promote urinary tract health: The building of colonies of certain bacteria like b-coli along the lining of the inner walls of urinary tract is responsible for this infection, resulting in inflammation, burning sensation during in passage of urine and other complications.


Here, Blue Berries can be surprisingly beneficial. It has a compound formed of big polymer like heavy molecules which inhibits the growth of such bacteria. It also has some anti biotic properties which adds to this effect. These heavy and big molecules almost wash-off these bacteria along the tract, thereby preventing the infection.

 
5. Been proved to preserve vision: Blueberry extract, high in compounds called anthocyanosides, has been found in clinical studies to slow down visual loss. They can prevent or delay all age related ocular problems like macular degeneration, cataract, myopia and hypermetropia, dryness and infections, particularly those pertaining to retina, due to their anti-oxidant properties.


Blue Berries contain a special group of anti oxidants called Carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin etc.), Flavonoids (like rutin, resveritrol, quercetin etc.), in addition to others such as vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A, selenium, zinc and phosphorus, which are very beneficial and essential for the ocular health.


Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.


6. Brain Health: The anthocyanin, the selenium, the vitamins A, B-complex, C and E, the zinc, sodium, potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese etc., among others, can prevent and heal neurotic disorders by preventing degeneration and death of neurons, brain-cells and also by restoring health of the central nervous system.


It is hard to believe that these berries can also cure serious problems like Alzheimer’s disease to a great extent. They even heal damaged brain cells and neuron tissues and keep your memory sharp for a long-long time.


Researchers found that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making them mentally equivalent to much younger ones.


7. Heart Disease: The high fiber content, those brilliant anti oxidants and the ability to dissolve the ‘bad cholesterol’ make the Blue Berry an ideal dietary supplement to cure many heart diseases. It also strengthens the cardiac muscles.


In this study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers found that a moderate drink (about 4 ounces) of white wine contained .47 mmol of free radical absorbing antioxidants, red wine provided 2.04 mmol, and a wine made from highbush blueberries delivered 2.42 mmol of these protective plant compounds.

 
8. Constipation & Digestion: While roughage (fiber) in Blue Berries keep away constipation (Of course, a single piece alone will not do. You need to eat a big handful of them), the vitamins, sodium, copper, fructose and acids improve digestion.


9. Cancer: Blue Berries can prove to be bliss for the cancer patients, for they contain certain compounds like Pterostilbene (excellent remedy for colon and liver cancer) and Ellagic Acid which, in harmony with Anthocyanin and other anti oxidants like vitamin-C and copper, can do miracles to prevent and cure cancer.


Laboratory studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that phenolic compounds in blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death). A significant 34% reduction in ovarian cancer risk was also seen in women with the highest intake of the flavone luteolin (found in citrus).

 
10. Other benefits & facts: They keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp, close to nature and in a good mood, as they are very good anti depressants. You also need not spend a lot on medicines, neither are there any side effects. Remember, the deeper the color of the Blue Berries, the more they are rich in anti oxidants and other medicinal values.

Thanks for administration this advice about top 10 bloom allowances of Blueberries.

Dear Rimsy and all your other names and IP addresses,

When will you realize I am deleting ALL of the links you place in your posts? Whether it be diet pills or furnace filters, we will not allow the spam.

 its really funny situation hahah lolzzzz 

It seems that any dark coloured berries from similar species will have similar action - it's the dark dye that has antioxidant properties.
I eat blueberries only in the summer. But the top fruit for me are black cherries. Don't know if I haven't said that already, but their antioxidant properties are incredible - you can really feel better, less tired, and so on, only after one day of taking them. No fruit has such strong antioxidant properties.
I am not exactly sure if this directly applies to thal, but who knows?
All destructive processes (including red blood cell destruction) are because of inflammatory action = free radical action. Cherries can prevent this really effectively (there are reports of people who cured their inflammatory diseases like gout and arthritis using only cherries, and no other "real" drug could help), so who knows?
In order to see benefits, you have to eat these everyday, but that is the sacrifice I am willing to do... It's not that bad.

B.

I forgot to tell you that my family will buy an Americam Blueberry plant very soon. They say the American one gives much more berries and that's why we decided to have that one.