Fermented blueberry juice helps with weight loss

Lab animals responded to fermented blueberry juice by showing reduced blood sugar levels which translates into a potential for weight loss and control of diabetes.

A Canadian study has found that enhanced blueberry juice helped manage, and even prevent, obesity and diabetes in mice — a finding researchers are hoping will lead to similar results in humans.

Researchers at the University of Montreal said they’ve discovered that blueberry juice transformed by a bacteria found on the skin of the fruit halted the progression of the two conditions in mice.

Pierre Haddad, a pharmacology professor at the university, said the bacteria quadrupled the amount of antioxidants in the juice – boosting what is already thought to be helpful in protecting the body against certain harmful molecules.

The researchers found the juice reduced blood sugar levels in the rodents, which is critical to the onset of both conditions.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jO0v4Mstn0_ASWyhXbxMvKC14TIA

See also:http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Blueberry+juice+fights+Canadian+study/1955061/story.html

Blueberries and diabetes

There is more evidence for the health benefits of blueberries as a result of human trials conducted a the University of P.E.I.

…[Researchers conducted] a pilot study evaluating the effect of blueberry juice on middle-aged, overweight men at moderate risk of cardiovascular disease.The group of 14 men was divided into two. One group was given 250 mL — just over one cup — of wild blueberry juice each day for three weeks while the other group was given a juice-like placebo for three weeks, followed by the reverse treatment.

Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of each treatment period. The results showed a trend toward better insulin sensitivity — good news for people who are pre-diabetic. “As we age, we make less insulin, so we’re more at risk for developing diabetes, and 80% of diabetics will have risk factors for heart attack and stroke,” [researcher] Sweeney-Nixon said.

If we’re more sensitive to the insulin our body produces, it can still do its job even though we produce less with age.

Source:http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theappetizer/archive/2009/06/11/first-human-trials-blueberries-may-help-boost-insulin-sensitivity-and-fight-inflammation-prince-edward-island-researcher-says.aspx

Bees and Blueberries

The past week has been the peak time for pollinating blueberries. Except for rhododendrons the blueberry bushes have had the bees to themselves. The mountain ash and wild apple were finished pollination about a week ago and the thornless blackberry have just started to show flowers. The bees are very attracted to the blackberry blossoms.

The worker bumblebees have been around for a couple of weeks and are now showing up in greater numbers and the honeybee colonies have expanded greatly over the past month.

Rhododendrons attract many bees.

Belly fat and blueberries

Recent research indicates that blueberries work to reduce the worst kind of fat – belly fat.

Researchers at the University of Michigan say blueberries may melt belly fat regardless of your diet.  The study, released Sunday at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans, found that rats fed freeze dried, crushed blueberries for 90 days ended up with less belly fat, lower cholesterol and better blood sugar levels.  The rats did even better if they were also fed low fat diets.  

Scientists say even the rats that stayed on high fat diets showed significant improvement on the blueberry powder.

Researchers say reduced abdominal fat may lead to a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  Source:

 http://www.wwj.com/UM-Researchers–Blueberries-May-Help-Cut-Belly-Fat/4228317

 

“Puffed” blueberries

A blueberry producer from Richmond B.C. in Canada has become the first to buy a Vancouver firm’s new dehydration process. The company plan to use the technology to produce ’puffed’ berries for snack foods and other processing. A licensing and royalty deal has been forged between EnWave Corp and Cal-San Enterprises, a blueberry farming, processing and winemaking operation owned by the Sandhu family of Richmond. …

The new processing method is said to be a blessing both financially and environmentally. It is competing with freeze drying, using three times the energy and costing six times the capital price. EnWave report that the cost will be between US$800.000 and US$1 million. The quality of the product is also ensured, as foods retain “excellent colour, flavour, and texture, with similar nutrients and shelf-life to freeze drying, and at a variety of moisture contents as required by the target market”.

Source:http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/index.php/the-news/549-ben-bricknell

Blueberry pectin

This is Jack. He is the world’s biggest blueberry smoothie fan. He is taking a picture of our blueberry pectin experiment. First we blended some defrosted blueberries and waited about 15 minutes for the blended fruit to jell. Jelling indicates the presence of pectin.

Jack

blended blueberries

The tilted goblet shows how well the blended blueberries jelled.

jelled blueberries

Recent research has identified pectin as an effective agent in destroying cancer cells

Scientists at the University of Georgia in the US found when prostate cancer cells were exposed to pectin powder or heat-treated citrus pectin, up to 40 per cent died.

The cells were made to “commit suicide” through a natural process called apoptosis that halts the creation of tumours.

Other studies on rats and cell cultures suggest pectin also fights lung and colon cancers.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3183821/Jam-can-curb-cancer-say-food-scientists.html

Blueberry pie and pectin

Research from the internet reveals two things that could possibly be true about fruit pectin. 1)PROLONGED heating will gradually destroy the pectin. 2)Pectin is related to improved flavour.

To test these ideas Anne cooked some frozen blueberries and added a little corn starch. Overcooking was avoided. The cooked blueberries were allowed to cool for a few minutes and then poured into a precooked pie shell. A layer of frozen Duke blueberries were added followed by another layer of cooked blueberries. Click on pictures to enlarge.

frozen berries added

more cooked berries

 The pie was allowed to cool and refrigerated for a couple of hours. The picture below shows how nicely it jelled. The layer of frozen Duke berries added a nice texture to the pie. Taste tests are ongoing but results so far are promising. More tests are needed. This is fun!

blueberry pie

Dandelions and blueberry blossoms

It is a commonly held view that dandelions will distract bees from pollinating blueberry blossoms. These pictures show that the dandelions have peaked just as the first blueberry blossoms are opening. Dandelions will blossom again a couple of times later in the season.

            

Rhododendrons are popular with all bees. Early rhododendrons start in March and later ones can go right to June. The broadleaf maple is a good food source for the bees but the flowers are finished right now. However, other maples are in blossom. (May 4) Pictures below are of bees in rhododendron and Japenese maple.