Bilberry – Natural Support for Eye Health

For centuries, Bilberry has been used as both a food and a health supplement – and like many berries, it is “food as medicine” at its best!

As a food, Bilberry is enjoyed in pies and jams much like its cousin, the Blueberry (in fact, it’s known as European Blueberry).

Bilberries are rich in anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that help to protect us from damaging free-radicals. Oxidative damage is considered to be a significant contributor to age-related macular degeneration.
Anthocyanins strengthen blood vessel walls and also help to prevent platelets from sticking together (which may decrease formation of blood clots).

Anthocyanins also increase the production of rhodopsin, a pigment in the retina of the eye. Rhodopsin helps the retina to adapt to changes in light, especially important for night vision. This is the basis of Bilberry’s anecdotal use by British pilots during the Second World War, when their night vision was reputably improved upon regular consumption of Bilberry jam.