Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

        Blueberry is a deciduous shrub with node-like stems and roots slavish. It grows in acidic soil hilly deciduous and coniferous forests and reaches ... height up to 50 cm. The leaves are egg-shaped and finely toothed, and the flowers are bell-shaped and light pink color. The fruit is a blue-black berry size of a pea, which is topped with round recessed. Blooms from April to October, and the fruits ripen in August. The leaves, which have medicinal properties, are harvested before flowering. The world's largest breeder is the U.S. (75% of total world production refers to North America). For growing blueberries is necessary to provide land with acidic soil (unless this is necessary to add sawdust or wood chips evergreen trees), with plenty of sun and moisture and protection from the wind and the 2500 biennial seedlings per hectare.

        Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, and are rich and minerals such as potassium, calcium and phosphorus. Blue blueberries comes from anthocyanins, an antioxidant. Foods rich in antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease and circulatory system. Blueberries are rich in dietary fiber and, particularly pectin, which is water soluble, and is beneficial in lowering blood cholesterol. Blueberries contain 100 g of about 84% water, 0.74 g protein, 14.49 g carbohydrates, 0.33 g fat, 2.4 g dietary fiber. Energy value is 57 kcal or 238 kJ per 100 g excellent source of vitamin C, as well as a serving of blueberries (150 g) provides 41% of the recommended daily requirement. In addition, taking large amounts of vitamin C in the form of supplements can cause digestive disorders and is therefore better to take food rich in vitamin C. Since minerals are rich in potassium, calcium and phosphorus.

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

        Blueberry leaves also have medicinal properties. They are rich in tannins, glycosides and flavonoids. Used against the formation of uric acid and to treat stomach cramps, coughs and diabetes. Tea leaves from blueberries is served in folk medicine for diarrhea, inflammation of the mouth and throat, diabetes, accelerating hair growth (rubbing of the scalp), but also in the preparation of coating. The leaves are effective only if they are wrinkled before the berries matured, after that they have no medicinal value. Vitamin C from food acts as a powerful antioxidant that, except that it has a positive effect in the case of colds, asthma and other diseases, reducing the risk of some types of cancer: mouth, throat, stomach, esophagus, colon and lung. Also, blueberries act antibacterial with inflammatory digestive and carminative.

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )

        Blue color in blueberries comes from anthocyanins - a known antioxidant. Foods rich in antioxidants as we already said reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease and circulatory system. Blueberries are rich in dietary fiber and, particularly pectin, which is water soluble, and is beneficial in lowering cholesterol in blood.  Demonstrated greater efficacy of vitamin C naturally contained in the ingredient than taken as a vitamin supplement (supplement), which is connected with each other by joint action of vitamin C and other ingredients in foods.

        Fresh blueberries are dark blue in color, and their area is "hazy". "Hazy" surface is a sign that the fresh blueberries. If they are fresh and undamaged, while shaking will be free to roll. Blueberries are the least perishable of all berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.). The refrigerator can keep from 10-14 days. Before placing remove crushed or moldy berries, but they do not do as follows. Excess blueberries can be frozen. Arrange the berries on a tray, and then put them in the freezer. When frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. Frozen blueberries can keep 10-12 months. Before eating or cooking fresh blueberries should be cleaned of any leaves, rinse under running water and dry it with absorbent cloth. Blueberries can be eaten fresh with the addition of sugar, ice cream, or with other fruits in fruit salads or want, and from them the products and fruit juices, syrups and wine.

Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus )