Berries along with fruits are an important and useful component of healthy food and a source of vitamins. Many of them improve metabolism, the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system.
Blueberries and blueberries are very useful. These berries are often confused, because they are very similar in appearance. However, some of their properties are still different, so you should learn to distinguish between these shrubs. Let's try to figure out what is the difference between blueberries and blueberries.
Blueberry Description
Blueberry (Latin Vaccinium uliginosum) - This is a low shrub of the Heather family, which grows in coniferous and broad-leaved wet forests, in wetlands, in the mountains and tundras of the Northern Hemisphere.
Refers to plants that can survive on poor soils. Loves a cold or temperate climate.
Blueberry leaves are dense, oval, light green above, bluish below. The flowers are small, in the form of bells of pink or white color.
Fruits - dark blue or black with a bluish bloom, of various shapes. The flesh of the fruit is green.
Blueberries are edible, sour-sweet, and which are altogether sweet-tasting, contain a number of useful substances, in particular, vitamins A and C, micro- and macroelements, amino acids.
Did you know? Other blueberry names are gonobobel, pigeon, gonobol, drunkard, drinker, fool. The last three names are explained by the fact that at one time this berry was attributed to an intoxicating effect, which was later not confirmed. In the people blueberries are also known under the names of marsh berries or marsh blueberries, drunken berries.In nature, several species of blueberry grows. The most common - Blueberry ordinary and blueberry tall.
The main varieties and hybrids of the blueberry garden were bred from the last species. In the culture of this berry shrub grown for over 100 years. However, it is worth noting that garden berries are somewhat inferior to wild ones in the degree of their usefulness.
Blueberry Description
In order to better understand the difference between blueberries and blueberries, let's take a closer look at the second plant.
Similar features of the two shrubs are explained primarily by the fact that they both belong to the heather family, and therefore are relatives.
Blueberry (lat. Vaccinium myrtillus) - also low-growing wild shrubs, common in forests and tundra of the Northern Hemisphere.
Its leaves are oval, toothed, light green. It blooms with single, drooping flowers in the form of lilacs of greenish-pink color.
Berries - black or black and blue with a sweet and sour taste and dark red flesh. Have the correct spherical shape. Suitable for human consumption. They are used fresh, fresh frozen and dried. Apply to tint wines, cooking jelly, medicinal decoctions and infusions.
Useful properties of blueberry
The benefits of blueberries can be found by examining in detail its chemical composition, nutritional and energy value.
Blueberry refers to low-calorie and dietary products: 100 g contains only 39 kcal, proteins - 1 g, fat - 0.5 g, carbohydrates - 6.6 g, water - 87.7 g, ash - 0.3 g.
The composition of the berries include vitamins of group B (B1, B2), PP, C, A, K; micro- and macronutrients: iron, phosphorus, calcium. Organic acids, fiber, tannins and pectins are also present.
Due to this rich composition, the spectrum of action of blueberry is very wide. It is able to normalize the work of the cardiovascular system, pancreas and intestines, stimulate brain activity.
Its use is advised to diabetics, because the berry improves metabolism and enhances the effect of medicines that lower blood sugar levels. Blueberry juice is recommended as a tonic.
A large amount of polyphenols in berries relaxes and dilates blood vessels. The presence of vitamin A makes blueberries useful for the eyes - to relieve tension and restore vision.
Vitamin C in the composition of the berries allows the use of the fruits of the shrub as an anti-scorbital remedy. Vitamin K1 is involved in blood clotting - products with it are recommended for older people to maintain energy and vitality.
Did you know? As a result of research conducted in the USA on hundreds of elderly people, it has been proven that blueberry berries are useful for restoring memory functions.Pectic substances in the fruits of blueberry, are removed from the human body heavy radioactive elements, so the berries should be taken to workers in hazardous industries.
Broths and teas from dry berries are used as an anti-disintegrant and antidiarrheal agent. Conducted studies confirming the ability of blueberry to prevent the formation of cancer cells.
Berries are used both fresh and in processed form: they are used to make jam, used for winemaking and making soft drinks. Also useful properties have blueberry leaves - they are suitable for decoctions and teas.
In the pharmacy you can find the fruits of blueberry under the name Uliginosi fractus and blueberry leaves - Uliginosi folium.
Important! There are a number of contraindications to the use of blueberries in excessive doses. Uncontrolled intake of it in food can lead to allergic reactions, impaired muscle function, diarrhea, and intoxication.
Useful properties of blueberries
Most of the adherents of a healthy lifestyle can not decide: blueberries and blueberries - what is more useful? The answer to this question we try to find in the composition of blueberries.
Blueberries - low-calorie, raw berries contain 57 kcal and are a source of proteins - 1.1 g, fat - 0.6 g and carbohydrates - 7.6 g. 100 g of fresh product contains 87 g of water and 0.4 g of ash.
The chemical composition is also diverse. The berries contain tannins, organic acids, vitamin C and B vitamins, carotene. The leaves are rich in tannins, acids, vitamins, arbutin, saponins, micro and macro elements.
For therapeutic purposes, blueberries are used primarily to improve visual acuity - based on it are produced pharmaceutical preparations recommended for people who, by the nature of their activity, constantly strain their eyesight.
Did you know? Bilberry is a part of the astronauts menu.Blueberry is also famous for its astringent properties, which are used in the treatment of diarrhea.
This berry is a champion among plants on the content of antioxidants, which means that it is capable of preventing substandard tumors. Also, experiments show that its systemic use reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases (thrombosis, myocardial infarction) and diabetes.
In folk medicine, the berries are recommended for the treatment of purulent skin wounds, burns, urolithiasis.
Both berries and leaves of a bush possess healing properties. Berries make jelly, fruit drinks, juices, face masks. The leaves are used for decoctions.
Important! Bilberry is contraindicated for people with chronic constipation, diseases of the pancreas and duodenum, as well as with individual intolerance.
The Differences Between Blueberries and Blueberries
As you can see, the outward signs of shrubs and berries are very similar, sometimes when looking for the answer to the question, what is the difference between blueberries and blueberries, even people who sell berries and seedlings are lost.
After analyzing the characteristics of growth, external characteristics, chemical and food compositions, as well as the useful properties of two different plants, we can identify their main differences
After reviewing them, you will be able to navigate yourself well in front of you - blueberries or blueberries and how to distinguish them.
- Stems. First of all, the shrubs differ in the height of the stems - they are higher in blueberry: from 30 to 100 cm. Blueberries reach a height of 15 to 40 cm.
Blueberry stems are softer and darker in color, they are rougher in blueberry. The shape of the bushes is different: blueberries are a creeping plant, and blueberries are upright.
- Berries. If you put the fruits of two shrubs next to them, their difference will become apparent. Blueberries have an irregular oblong shape and are larger in size (up to 1.2 cm), while blueberries have the correct spherical shape.
The color of the berries is darker in blueberries, they are black and blue, while blueberries are rather blue-gray. The flesh of blueberry fruit is green; blueberries have a dark red (when eaten, the tongue turns red).
Blueberry juice - colorless, blueberry - dark red. The taste of blueberries and blueberries also has a difference: blueberries - sweet and sour with a rich taste, blueberries - sugary and sweet. - Saplings Blueberries are used in garden crops, blueberries are not cultivated, as they require natural environmental conditions.
Blueberry juice - colorless, blueberry - dark red. The taste of blueberries and blueberries also has a difference: blueberries - sweet and sour with a rich taste, blueberries - sugary and sweet.
