Bilberry

Bilberry For Eye Health

Bilberries are a close relative of the antioxidant-rich blueberry and many other berries, including cranberries and huckleberries. However, the bilberry is especially impressive for eye health thanks to its concentration in naturally occurring phytochemicals known as anthocyanins. Indeed, bilberries are the richest source of anthocyanins of all berries. In turn, these anthocyanins have powerful antioxidant properties, with research showing exceptionally robust benefits for vision health. They are also excellent sources of Vitamins A, C, & E, which are among the most well-known antioxidants and have each been shown to promote optimal eye and vision health.

bilberry supplements are widely used to improve various vision parameters, including: sharpening night vision or vision in low light, decreasing vascular permeability and capillary fragility, decreasing oxidative damage in cells, and protecting retinal cells against degeneration. Numerous studies have also shown that bilberry supplements can effectively be used for eye conditions such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa, as well as eye conditions caused by hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Benefits of Bilberry For Eye Health

• Assists Vision
• Decreases Vascular Permeability
• Enhances Circulation
• Promotes Optimal eye health

Who Needs Bilberry Supplements?

A high-quality supplement is a wonderful idea to enhance your overall antioxidant protection and, more specifically, to promote optimal eye health and offer vision support across age groups. An ideal candidate would be one that has noticed their eyesight may not be as sharp as it used to be, as well as anyone diagnosed with an eye condition, to help improve vision and prevent further degeneration of the condition. The elderly may especially benefit from supplementing with bilberry to help mitigate the effects of aging and help prevent the onset of age-related vision loss and other age-related eye conditions. 

Bilberry Supplements For Eye Health

Bilberry supplements provide bilberry extract and are widely available in capsules, tablets, and liquid tincture form. The potency is usually in the 60 - 120 mg range, and the typical recommended daily intake usually hovers around 160-240 mg.

Final Thoughts

When selecting your bilberry extract, you’ll want to look for one that is standardized to an optimal concentration of anthocyanins - a group of deeply coloured pigments found in plants that are part of a larger category of plant-based chemicals called flavonoids. Anthocyanins are primarily responsible for the bilberry's therapeutic qualities. A high-quality supplement should supply between 25 to 36 % anthocyanins.

Bilberry extract is also often combined with other antioxidants and herbs that synergistically bolster antioxidant protection and promote optimal eye health. 

There is not enough data on the safety of bilberry extract to recommend its use during pregnancy or lactation, so it should be avoided as a caution in such instances. 

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