About Blueberries
About BlueberriesWhen we introduced Bunnery Natural Foods Blueberry Granola, the first of our granolas enriched with fruit, we hardly suspected it would become our best selling granola blend. Then, we noticed how popular the blueberry pancakes we serve at The Bunnery, our Jackson Hole restaurant, are. It didn’t take too long to connect the dots, and based on our original O.S.M. recipe, Wild Blueberry soon became our first pancake and waffle mix incorporating low-moisture fruit. This healthful, deliciously satisfying blend of oats, sunflower seeds and millet come together with America’s favorite berry in our own nutrition-packed version of a breakfast classic. High in fiber, vitamins and essential microelements, it’s a perfect start to any day.
Blueberries are native to North America,
Northern Europe and parts of Asia, although wild blueberries are now only present in Maine and Nova Scotia. The fruit was an important part of the Native American diet and quickly incorporated into that of early colonists of the new world, not only as a food but also as a treatment for respiratory and digestive illnesses. A shrub that flowers in early spring, blueberries begin harvest in May in the warmer climates, and the season concludes in September for wild berries that grow in northern latitudes. Ninety percent of the world’s blueberry crop is produced in the United States.
One of the few plants suitable for human consumption
that is naturally blue in color, blueberries are also an extremely healthful fruit. High in fiber, they help to regulate cholesterol and regularity. Long known to contain a higher percentage of cancer preventive antioxidants than most other fruits and vegetables, they are also one of the fruits most abundant in vitamin C, vital to collagen formation and vascular health. Vitamin C aids in absorption of iron to maintain a strong immune system.
One cup of blueberries, or about five ounces,
provides fourteen percent of recommended daily fiber and nearly a quarter of recommended vitamin C in only eighty-four calories. They are also a rich source of vitamin A, zinc, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium, each of which benefits various body regulatory systems, including vascular function and blood pressure; neural health for brain function and memory; bone strength and prevention of urinary tract infection.
Of particular note is research
indicating that blueberries are extremely beneficial to vision. It is known that anthocyanins in blueberries improve night vision, aid the eyes in adjusting to bright lights and help relieve eyestrain. More recent studies at Tufts University are investigating properties of the fruit which may prevent macular degeneration of the retina, the major cause of blindness in people over age 65. Another ongoing Tufts study is looking into the possible ability of blueberries to reverse age-related short-term memory loss, an effect observed in laboratory experiments. Elderly rats fed blueberry extract for two months showed improved speed, balance, coordination and recall of previously learned navigation skills through a maze.
Bunnery Natural Foods
Blueberry Granola and Wild Blueberry Pancake & Waffle Mix contain all natural blueberries processed by a method called “low moisture.” The berries are frozen and the moisture slowly removed, and the water content is then partially replaced by a small amount of all-natural sweetener. This results in a shelf-stable, moist, sweet and deliciously flavorful berry that compliments the rich, nutty flavors of our Original Granola and O.S.M. Pancake & Waffle Mix.