SUPERBERRIES

It seems not a day goes by without some exotic new jungle plant being proclaimed a 'superfood'.  Yet, the real superheroes of the food world are often found much closer to home, as many of our wild berries genuinely deserve their super-status.  And the good new is, not only are they versatile and good for you in more ways than one, they also taste wonderful.

Blueberry / Bilberry

Blueberries contain various antioxidants, in particular anthocyanidin, which is very good in fighting ageing and tissue breakdown.  This, and other compounds contained in blueberries can help guard against cardiovascular and certain other major diseases.  Like most other berries, blueberries also contain fibre and certain mildly laxative substances, which help the digestive system function well and stay healthy.

Please note that while the cultivated blueberry commonly sold in supermarkets is still a valuable source of nutrients, antioxidants, etc., it is simply no competition to the other blueberry-related species, especially the bilberry (also commonly called blueberry or wild blueberry) found in the boreal forests of Northern Europe.  Wild berries also have the added advantage of being organic(*) and sustainable by their very nature.

(*) Wild berries cannot be certified as organic, as they grow wild rather than being farmed.

Lingonberry / Cowberry

Lingonberries aka cowberries contain high levels of Vitamin C, beta carotene (provitamin A), Vitamins B1, B2 and B3, as well as various minerals such as potassium and magnesium.  There are also phytochemicals present which can help fight urinary tract infections, as well as various antioxidants and flavonoids which can help reduce the risk of various cancers and cardiovascular diseases.  The seeds, meanwhile, contain Omega 3 oil and tocotrienol (provitamin E), which is estimated to be up to fifty times more powerful an antioxidant than Vitamin E itself.

Lingonberries grow wild in the boreal forests of Northern Europe, and are therefore by definition organic and sustainable.  Their flavour is fuller and less acidic than that of cranberries, with a hint of sweetness.

Blackcurrant

Blackcurrants are well known to contain very high levels of Vitamin C, which is obviously important to health and well-being in many ways, not least in maintaining the cardiovascular system.  What is not so commonly known is that blackcurrant seeds contain the rare but highly valuable gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), with strong anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, as well as other Omega 3 and 6 oils.

Most blackcurrants are farmed, although some exist in a semi-wild state.  When buying blackcurrants it is important to ensure that they are grown in a pollution-free environment without the use of unnecessary pesticides and other chemicals, preferably according to organic standards.

Cranberry

Cranberries contain antioxidants which are beneficial to the cardiovascular and immune systems, and may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.  Cranberry juice is also an effective cure for urinary tract infections.

Farmed and wild berries are more or less identical.  Of course, wild berries have the added advantage of being organic and sustainable by their very nature, but their availability is limited and they therefore represent a small fraction of all cranberries sold.

Sea-buckthorn

Last but by no means least, sea-buckthorn is perhaps the first among equals, even in this illustrious collection of superberries!  It has been known in various parts of the world for many centuries as an exceptional source of health-giving nutrition, thanks largely to its antioxidants and nutrients.  Alone its Vitamin C content is ten times higher weight for weight than in oranges - and that's just the beginning:  sea-buckthorn also contains seven other vitamins, as well as high levels of many other nutrients such as zinc and iron.  As if that's not enough, there are also Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 oils in substantial quantities!  With such a mix of nutrients, sea-buckthorn is sure to improve your health in a number of ways, anything from maintaining your cardiovascular and digestive systems to boosting your brain.

The trouble is, sea-buckthorn tends to grow in rather inaccessible and inhospitable places such as on rocky cliff-sides and windswept islets.  And if you do manage to find and reach the bush, your troubles have only just begun as the berries are well guarded by masses of thorns covering the plant on all sides.  No wonder, then, that the berries are quite literally worth their weight in gold, and even then supply cannot keep up with demand.