For centuries, blueberries (Vaccinnium) have been touted in folklore and medicine as a valuable functional food. Native Americans consumed the leaves, roots and fruits of the highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum in potions designed to cure certain ailments. Europeans consumed the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit as part of their health and nutrition regiment. Here's a closer look at some specific health benefits supported by research.
Eyesight. For decades there has been an association between blueberries, especially bilberries (European blueberries) and eye health. Royal Air Force Pilots in World War II ate bilberries to help in night vision for their bombing runs. The berry's pigment contains a substance called anthocyanin, which is thought to help eyesight. Research in Japan by Osami Kajimoto demonstrated blueberries' prevention of weak eyesight and eye fatigue.1 In a recent North American Blueberry Council study conducted in Japan, more than 85% of consumers were aware of blueberries' eyesight benefits. In the past four years, dozens of blueberry products have been sold in Japan as eye potions.