Among the most popular blueberry extracts, the most popular are those made from Red and Black Cranberries. Both of these berries have significant health benefits. They can be considered the 'kings' of berries.
The main active ingredients in both blueberries and anthocyanins (which are polyphenols), resveratrol (also found in red wine and grape seeds), catechins (active ingredients in green tea), quercetin (which enhances the effect of resveratrol), tannins and phenolic acids. All the above-mentioned active substances have mainly antioxidant effects. They protect against free radicals (reactive oxygen and nitrogen radicals) that damage cells.
These free radicals damage cells through the process of oxidation, and when these damaged cells multiply, it can lead to a number of diseases - neurological, arthritic, autoimmune, cardiovascular and digestive diseases, cancer, infections and others.
Antioxidants, as their name suggests, protect against this unwanted oxidation. The main antioxidants in blueberries are anthrocyanins. There are several types of these compounds, which give blueberries their characteristic colour. The anthocyanins are mainly broken down by the 'good' bacteria in the gut, so it is important to maintain a balance in the gut flora to ensure their proper utilisation. The effects of anthocyanins and gut flora are independent, with anthocyanin intake improving gut flora (by feeding the good bacteria) and the right amount of 'good' bacteria helping to metabolise anthocyanins. We also offer probiotics to support the gut flora.
In this way, blueberries and bilberries can help improve or prevent many inflammatory diseases, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancers and age-related diseases.
Blueberries contain the most anthocyanins, with up to 500 mg of anthocyanins per 100 grams (but only a small proportion of this is utilized - % with a little more if the gut flora is balanced).
Therefore, blueberries may have a potential role in the treatment or prevention of inflammation, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, increased oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, diabetes, dementia and other age-related conditions. There is also research showing blueberries have antimicrobial activity. In this chapter, we will describe blueberries and their ingredients and characteristics, and present and discuss the health benefits of blueberries.
The most studied plant for urinary tract infections is cranberry, which prevents bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.
Blueberries and cranberries are considered safe to consume, with doses of their extracts used in studies ranging from 5-11 grams. This is equivalent to 500-1000 mg of anthocyanins
