Several species of blueberries are native in the U.S., and fruits of many are gathered from the wild. for more information on berries, click the link.

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North Korea doing Blueberry research

North Korean scientists are trying to find out the healing power of blueberries. "The government has taken measures to deepen the research into blueberries," the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday, citing the fruit's effectiveness in "lowering cholesterol content in the blood vessels, liver and kidney as well as preventing and curing heart and blood diseases." The report claimed the "sterilizing power" of blueberry was also potent in treating internal diseases, and for remove poisoning by heavy metals and drugs. KCNA said the blueberry was a special product of Mount Paektu — the highest peak on the peninsula, where the North claims its leader Kim Jong Il was born — and claimed wine made from blueberries harvested at the mountain was one the country's famous spirits "popular at home and abroad."

Blueberry Research
Total antioxidant power in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries and the comparison of blood parameters associated with exercise.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2006 Apr;143(4):429-34. Dunlap KL, Reynolds AJ, Duffy LK. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Box 756160, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Research indicates that exercise contributes to oxidative stress. Fruits, such as blueberries, are good antioxidants because they contain phenolics that preferentially react with free radicals. Maintaining antioxidant levels by supplementing the diet with blueberries may prevent exercise-induced oxidative damage. The goal of our study was to compare antioxidant levels in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries on blood parameters within 48 h post-exercise. Though the exercise protocol did not cause unusual muscle damage as reflected in plasma creatine kinase and isoprostane levels, blueberry supplementation did elicit significantly elevated antioxidant status in sled dogs post exercise. This suggests that dogs fed blueberries while exercising as compared to dogs fed a control diet while exercising, may be better protected against oxidative damage.

Blueberry Questions

Q. So, what are your thoughts on blueberries? They've been lauded like crazy in recent months for their ability to facilitate good brain function. Having smoked alot of pot in my misguided youth, and having a family history of Alzeimer's, I've developed a keen interest in finding healthful methods of preserving my [remaining] faculties. I've taken to organics. Eating only organic fruits and veggies, and fresh salmon out the wazoo, I thought was the right path until I read about the 'magical' abilities of certain components found in blueberries. Now, I eat blueberries by the pint....daily. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on recent findings associated with antioxidant rich blueberries? The tide of studies and recommendations seems like an onslaught at times - difficult to digest at such a speedy rate, and everything sounds like an infomercial. I wish someone would produce a bunk-o-meter site for this type of data. Anyway, great site. Informative. Interesting. Appears honest and not overly technical.

     A. Our preference is to consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as opposed to a lot of one. Blueberries are healthy, but it is better to consume a small amount of several types rather than a large amount of one.

Q. We are older persons living in Mexico and would like to know which antioxidant is more potent - blueberry or pomegranate? We grow pomegranate trees here all over the place, and we chew on the seeds, and eat the fruit - we feel this is better than taking capsules. Would the results on lowering cholesterol, plaque, etc. be the same, or would blueberry extract be better?
   A. Which is healthier, an apple or an orange? They are both good. I prefer people eat a variety of fruits rather than focus on just a limited number.