Bilberries - Raw Remedy For Colitis

The following information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness.

Saturday, January 21, 2012 by: Antonia, contributing writer

A recent Swiss study shows potential of bilberries in fighting bowel inflammation and colitis, thanks to their impressive content of bioavailable antioxidants.

A new study coming from Switzerland shows that nature has yet another amazing remedy in store for us. The promising research, conducted by Professor Gerhard Rogler and his team at the University Hospital of Zurich, reveals that natural bioactive substances in bilberries can ameliorate colitis and promote overall gut health. "Our data show considerably positive effects of bilberries, in particular in colitis", the study reads.

What Are Bilberries?

Bilberries - or huckleberries, as they are known in North America - grow in acidic, low nutrient soils in the temperate and subarctic regions of Europe. Related to North American blueberries, the fruits are smaller in size but have a more vigorous taste. Bilberries are darker in color and have a red or purple-blue pulp that is soft and juicy. The shrubs are rather difficult to grow, which is why most of the berries come from wild bushes that thrive freely on uncultivated lands.

Like all other berries, bilberries have a high content of flavonoids, which are natural plant pigments with amazing antioxidant effects. One of these pigments is called anthocyanin, and it really packs a nutritional wallop. Researches have shown that the level of anthocyanins found in these fruits can go as much as 10%. This percentage ranks them as first among berries when it comes to level of antioxidants. There is substantial medical evidence that anthocyanins can have health effects against cancer, premature aging, neurological degradation, diabetes, inflammation, fibrocystic breast disease, and bacterial infections.

The bioactive substances contained in these small fruits will reduce the amounts of free radicals in the body, and act as a natural protective barrier between our cells and toxins from outside. When regularly included in the diet, bilberries can improve sight and ameliorate vision problems like macular degeneration. Even when naturally dried or juiced, bilberries will retain all of their beneficial characteristics, which makes them an excellent addition to raw desserts and smoothies!

Bilberries Are The Natural Allies Of The Gut

Previous reports on the effect of bilberries on human body have shown that they can be successfully used in fighting various gut problems, including severe forms of diarrhea. Based on these results, the team of Swiss scientists tried to obtain further clinical evidence to support the benefits of bilberry consumption in gut health.

A group of laboratory mice suffering from colitis were used for testing. The mice were split into three distinct groups. Each of the groups were fed meals that had been supplemented with dried berries or flavonoid extracts from the fruits. The first group received meals containing 20% dried fruits while the other two groups were given 10% bilberries and 1% anthocyanins with their meals. The results show that oral intake of dried bilberries led to a decrease in inflammation severity for both acute and chronic experimental colitis.

"Dried bilberries also improved chronic DSS-colitis" and "ingestion of dried bilberries had positive effects on various parameters especially in acute DSS-colitis", explained the scientists. "These promising results justify a clinical study on their therapeutic effect in inflammatory bowel disease patients" they added, as the impressive results obtained during the study may promote this raw remedy as a powerful alternative to classical steroid treatment for colitis.

Sources for this article include:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mnfr.201100380/abstract

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/202.html

http://www.worldhealth.net/news/bilberries-help-improve-gi-health/

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bilberry/

Antonia, contributing writer A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. View All Antonia's Articles Subscribe To Antonia's Article Feed