Bilberry - 60 Caps

BILBERRY - THE EYE HERB

This antioxidant rich herb contains important phytochemicals, particularly anthocyanidins, that are believed to provide up to fifty times the antioxidant protection of Vitamin E and ten times that of vitamin C. Furthermore, Bilberry’s antioxidant properties neutralize free radicals and reduce damage to vessels all over the body, including those in the eye. Cataracts are caused by free radical damage in the lens of the eye and therefore bilberry can treat cataracts. Other eye problems that are also helped by bilberry are: macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, night blindness and myopia.  Bilberry has anti-aging properties because as an antioxidant it protects the body against environmental pollutants other substances that and lead to aging.  Bilberry also stabilizes the connective tissue called collagen. Thus it is beneficial for conditions of collagen instability in the vascular system such as varicose veins, phlebitis and heart disease. Finally, bilberry inhibits blood clotting and can be useful to increase circulation in cases of atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Why Not Eat Blueberries?

Fresh blueberries contain about 0.1 - 0.25% anthocyanoside content by weight.  By comparison, bilberry capsules contain 25% anthocyanoside content. To get the same amount of antioxidant effect by eating the fresh fruit, you would have to eat at least 60 grams of blueberries EVERY DAY.

What Makes Bilberry Different From Other Antioxidants?

 The anthocyanoside antioxidants in bilberry are different than other antioxidants like vitamins C or E because they have a much stronger affinity (or attraction) to the tissues in the eye than any other common antioxidants. This means that bilberry is much more appropriate for therapeutic applications when the eyes are affected than vitamins C or E.

What Causes Vision Loss?

The eye is a very important sensory organ, which is shown by the fact that a large area of our brain is committed to taking in and understanding visual information.  Up to 70% of all of the sensory receptors in the body are in the eyes. Problems with the eyes become more common as we age.

There Are Two Main Causes Of Degenerative Eye Conditions:

- Free radical damage
- Decreased blood flow to the eye

Free radicals are unstable molecules that in their bid to become more stable must bump into healthy cells and cause damage. This can cause cell death, alterations in genetic material and autoimmune reactions to damaged cells. Food, water and ultraviolet radiation from the sun are the major contributors of free radicals that build up in the eye.

The eyes reflect the overall health of the body. The vessels on the back of the eyeball are very small and fragile. Changes in them are often the first sign of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. These conditions lead to decreased blood flow to the retina. Lack of oxygen and an accumulation of waste products eventually compromises vision.

Poor diet, environmental toxins, medications and stress all decrease the body’s ability to neutralize free radicals and maintain healthy vessels. This can result in eye degeneration, occurring in cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.