Known as the “Elixir of Life” or the “gold remedy for eternal youth and longevity” among the Japanese Ainu aborigines, Sweetberry Honeysuckle (aka. Haskap; Lonicera caerulea) is a perennial deciduous shrub from Northern Hemisphere cool temperate countries, such as Canada, Japan, Russia and Poland.
Although most of us know Honeysuckles for their flowers—this one is famous for its fruit!
The Sweetberry Honeysuckle produces yellowish-white flowers that are followed by edible blue berries that are variable in shape and flavor depending on cultivar, but are generally somewhat rectangular with a sweet-sour flavor.
Amazingly, the Sweetberry Honeysuckle flowers can survive down to -7°C and the plant -40°C, and they are fairly fuss-free, unaffected by pests, disease and soil pH changes.
The Sweetberry Honeysuckle has one of the highest contents of Vitamin C among all berries, and amazingly the highest level of pholphenolic compounds out of all the berries grown in Canada—even exceeding bilberries!!
They are touted as having three times the antioxidants and five times the anti-inflammatories—thus an emerging superfood business being led by the Canadians.
The berry can be used to make beverages (with stable color characteristics), wine, desserts, jams and jellies, but also consumed raw.
As thier popularity is growing, more regions are planting this berry and it has been registered as a traditional food under EU regulations.
The Sweetberry Honeysuckle has a long history of use as a traditional medicine especially for longevity, vitality, and as a preventative in chronic conditions.
Its powerful polyphenols and other phytochemicals are helpful in promoting healthy blood pressure, digestion, immunity, cognition, glucose levels and eye health.
Through scientific investigation the berries have been shown to exhibit neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, radioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities.
In one randomized clinical trial, a 400 mg extract dose lowered diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, and increased cognitive function, with significant improvement in episodic memory, only 1.5 hours after administration!
#longevity #antiaging #polyphenols
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Rectangular Berries to Square Your Mind!
