Are wild blueberries or cultivated cranberries healthier?
Both the blueberries grown on the plantations and their small cousins, the wild blueberries that grow in the wastelands of Maine (USA), Eastern Canada and other regions, are full of nutrients.
"As scientists, we do not see that there are many differences from the point of view of health"Says researcher Amy Howell, of the Marucci Research Center at Rutgers University. "Both types are excellent".
"In itself, blueberries are superior to almost all other fruits because they have a very complex biochemical profile and have many very therapeutic phytochemical compounds for humans"Explains Mary Ann Lila, director of the Institute of Plant Sciences for Human Health at North Carolina State University.
The Wild Blueberry Association of North America states that the wild variety is even more nutritious than the cultivated one, and cites an 2010 analysis from the US Department of Agriculture. UU (USDA), which analyzes the antioxidant levels of dozens of fruits, vegetables, spices and other foods. This report revealed that blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant values and that wild blueberries contain twice as many as the cultivated ones, a conclusion that was also reached by another Cornell University study, according to which the antioxidant cellular activity of the Wild blueberries is higher than that of the cultivated ones.
However, since then, the USDA has removed the antioxidant database from its website, because "There is increasing evidence that antioxidant capacity is not relevant to human health" The agency has also expressed concern that food and supplement manufacturers are using this information improperly for advertising purposes.
Even so, Lila emphasizes that wild blueberries contain phytochemical compounds more varied and in greater quantity than those cultivated, including a total of 26 anthocyanin compounds that help them survive in an adverse environment.
"They are not as pampered as cultivated blueberries", Which are bred to enhance its sweetness, its caliber and its capacity to support transport, according to Lila. "These blueberries are produced under conditions of extreme stress, which support thanks to the phytochemical compounds that generate".
Some minor studies suggest that both types of blueberries are beneficial for health, although it is likely that these effects are not too relevant. In one study, nine elderly people added wild cranberry juice to their diet for 12 weeks and their memory improved, and another study found that obese men and women who drank freeze-dried cultured cranberry powder shakes experienced improvements in their insulin sensitivity.
Source: Freshplaza.es
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