DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WILD BLUBERRIES VS BLUEBERRIES

When we think of a blueberry bush, we generally think of a cultivated blueberry bush, which stands in straight rows and taller than the average person.  These are referred to as “highbush.”

Wild blueberry bushes are referred to as “lowbush.” They spread low and wide through runners, covering fields in a random manner. 

Cultivated blueberries take careful planning and planting, whereas wild blueberries grow naturally in fields and rocky hills called barrens. No one plants wild blueberries; they’ve grown naturally for thousands of years.

For the consumer, the most notable difference between wild and cultivated blueberries probably lies in nutritional content. Click here to read about the health benefits of wild blueberries. 

Lets compare both types.

WILD BLUEBERRIES (LOWBUSH)- Vaccinium angustifolium

* Small shrubs that grow no larger than 2 ft

* They are not planted and grow closer to the ground and spread by rhizomes wherever mother nature intends them to grow. 

* Taste: Wild Blueberries have a more intense, sweet and tangy taste than cultivated blueberries

* Smaller size: wild blueberries offer a higher skin-to-pulp ratio; meaning less water and more antioxidant-rich pigments, more fiber, and more intense blueberry flavour per serving.

* More antioxidants: 33% more brain healthy anthocyanins and 2x the antioxidant capacity of ordinary blueberries. Anthocyanin, is believed to protect against brain ageing and promote vision health. Click here for research on this topic.

Do Wild Blueberries grow in Australia?

No, which is why we have sourced it from the most purest lands that Wild Blueberries grow on in Canada.

CULTIVATED BLUEBERRIES (HIGHBUSH) (Vaccinium corymbosum)

* Tall shrubs that can reach a height of 8 ft

* Are planted and grow on bushes 

* Taste: Cultivated blueberries are larger in size, with a more bland flavour than the naturally more complex wild flavour profile.

* Bigger size: Cultivated blueberries contain a higher percentage of water content, which means less antioxidant-rich pigments from the skin, less fiber and less intense flavour per serving.

* Less antioxidants: Like wild blueberries, cultivated blueberries contain phytochemicals called flavonoids, which deliver antioxidant protection to our cells. However, if you want the biggest antioxidant bang for your blueberry, go wild!

What is a serving size of wild blueberries?

1/2 cup of fresh/frozen wild blueberries or ½ teaspoon of Puresia Organic Wild blueberry Powder.

REFERENCES:

Boespflug, E.L et al, Enhanced neural activation with blueberry supplementation in mild cognitive impairment, Nutritional Neuroscience 2017; 21:4. 

Devore, E. et al, Dietary Intakes of Berries and Flavonoids in Relation to Cognitive Decline, Annals of Neurology 2012; 72:1. 

Gao, X. et al, Habitual Intake of Dietary Flavonoids and Risk of Parkinson Disease, Neurology 2012; 78:15. 

Kalt et al. 2020, ‘Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins’, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages 224–236.

Khalid et al 2017, ‘Effects of Acute Blueberry Flavonoids on Mood in Children and Young Adults’, Nutrients 2017, 9(2), 158

Khurana et al 2013, 'Polyphenols: Benefits to the Cardiovascular System in Health and in Aging', Nutrients, 5(10): 3779–3827.

Klimis-Zacas, D. et al, Wild Blueberries Attenuate Risk Factors of the Metabolic Syndrome. Journal of Berry Research 2016, 6:2. 

Krikorian, R., et al, Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults, J Agric Food Chem 2010; 58:7.

Lacombe, A., Li, R.W., Klimis-Zacas, D., et al. Lowbush wild blueberries have the potential to modify gut microbiota and xenobiotic metabolism in the rat colon. PLoS ONE 2013, 8(6).

Liguori et al. 2018, ‘Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases’, Clinical Interventions & Aging, 13: 757–772.

Mateos et al. 2016, ‘Circulating Anthocyanin Metabolites Mediate Vascular Benefits of Blueberries: Insights From Randomized Controlled Trials, Metabolomics, and Nutrigenomics’, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 74, Issue 7, Pages 967–976.

Miller, M., et al, Dietary blueberry improves cognition among older adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Eur J Nutr 2018; 57. 

Singh et al. 2016, ‘Free radicals hasten head and neck cancer risk: A study of total oxidant, total antioxidant, DNA damage, and histological grade’, Journal of Postgrad Medicine, 62(2): 96–101.

Vendrame et al. 2011, Six-Week Consumption of a Wild Blueberry Powder Drink Increases Bifidobacteria in the Human Gut, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59(24):12815-20

Whyte, A., Williams, C.M. Effects of a single dose of a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink on memory in 8-10-year-old children, Nutrition 2015, 31(3).

Whyte et al. 2016, ‘Cognitive effects following acute wild blueberry supplementation in 7- to 10-year-old children’, ​​European Journal of Nutrition, volume 55, 2151-2162. 

Xianlu, W. et al, Concentrations of Anthocyanins in Common Foods in the United States and Estimation of Normal Consumption, J. Agric. Food Chem 2006; 54:11.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Good of Australia. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.