Ensuring that we eat right and stay healthy is essential all year long. Wild blueberries are one of those foods that you should try and eat regularly, as they not only taste delicious, but they have many health benefits that will keep you feeling great. While finding fresh wild blueberries in the winter is challenging, they do come in frozen packs, as puree, and as juice. Keep reading for some of the health benefits of wild blueberries, and how they differ from cultivated blueberries.

Health Benefits of Wild Blueberries

Antioxidants: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and phytonutrients are plentiful in wild blueberries, and act as powerful antioxidants. Wild blueberries have greater antioxidant properties than their cultivated cousins; the antioxidants in wild blueberries can prevent various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Wild blueberries are especially rich in a flavonoid called anthocyanin, which is another great antioxidant. Dietary antioxidants such as the anthocyanins flavonoids found in wild blueberries, have the ability to neutralize free radicals and help prevent or stop damage to cells. The high amounts of vitamin C in wild blueberries also helps to strengthen the immune system, and prevents illness. Due to its antioxidant capacity, adding wild blueberries as a part of your juice cleanse will help provide an even better detox.

Anti-inflammatory: Antioxidants also protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties in wild blueberries are also thought to help with joint and muscle swelling.

Anti-aging: Like cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries are also rich in vitamin C, which helps produce collagen in the skin. Collagen helps make up new skin cells, and removes old skin cells, which helps reduce the amount of wrinkles. The antioxidants in wild blueberries also help to prevent damage from the sun, pollution, and smoke.

Weight loss: Wild blueberries are great sources of fiber, making them beneficial those looking to improve their digestive system, and those looking to lose weight. The low calories in wild blueberries (approximately 80 calories a serving) also helps to attribute to weight loss, and weight management.

How Wild Blueberries Differ From Cultivated Blueberries

There are a couple of ways in which wild Blueberries are different from cultivated blueberries. Wild blueberries are not planted, whereas cultivated blueberries are. Wild blueberry are low bush berries, meaning they grow closer to the ground, while cultivated blueberries are high bush. Wild blueberries are not grown at an industrial scale, but rather are allowed to grow naturally in the wild before being picked. Wild blueberries also contain at least twice the amount of antioxidants that are found in regular blueberries.

While regular blueberries and wild blueberries have many of the same nutritional benefits, the health benefits of wild blueberries are greater. Another difference is the size of the berries; wild blueberries are much smaller than cultivated blueberries by roughly half a size. For example, roughly 90 cultivated blueberries may fit into one cup, that same size cup can hold more than 150 wild blueberries. Wild blueberries also have a more intense taste than cultivated blueberries, often being described as sweeter and tangier.