Bilberry Extract

Improves the overall eye health through several mechanisms
80 mg 90 capsules, Code 3711-9

$26.95

With only recent attention in the American medical community, bilberry jam was given to Royal Air Force pilots who flew at night during WWII. Several European studies confirm Bilberry's incredible effect on vision. Rich in anthocyanosides, this northern shrub with berries similar to blueberries has traditionally been used to reduce eyestrain and support proper visual functions. It's also helpful in dealing with circulatory insufficiencies and vascular strength by helping to synthesize compounds that maintain artery walls. *Dry macular degeneration and other age-related eye diseases are often caused by a breakdown of the circulatory system of the eye. Bilberry extracts have been shown to improve microcapillary circulation throughout the body.

Like ginkgo extract, standardized bilberry extract is considered a prescription drug in most countries in Europe. It's easy to understand why European doctors prescribe bilberry extract so frequently.

One area of the body that benefits greatly from bilberry extract is the microcapillary circulation of the eye, which breaks down with aging, making treatments for eye diseases the leading health care cost to Medicare in the United States today. While ginkgo and grape seed extracts have been shown to improve ocular microcapillary circulation and provide potent ocular antioxidant protection, bilberry extract improves the overall health of your eyes through several additional mechanisms.

Bilberry extract has a deep bluepurple tone that contains the majority of the fruit's active anthocyanin content. Bilberry accelerates the regeneration of the pigmented area of the eyes, which is the mechanism by which bilberry is thought to reduce visual fatigue and improve light to dark adjustment. Bilberry extract markedly increases the rate of activity of several enzyme systems within the retina of the eye.

Dosage and Use
As a dietary supplement, take 1-3 capsules daily with meals.

Note:
Those suffering from dry macular degeneration are urged to take the following daily dose of nutrients:
Ginkgo Biloba extract ..................120 mg
Bilberry extract .....................100-200 mg
Grape Seed Extract.....................100 mg

Caution:
If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare professional before using this product.

Antioxidant Power
Blueberries and bilberries slow brain aging and protect vision
by Ivy Greenwell

Bilberry extract has been shown to enhance the blood-brain barrier, which tends to become impaired with aging, showing a decrease in vascular density, increased permeability and other abnormalities. The normal functioning of blood-brain barrier is important not only for keeping out toxins and undesirable compounds, but also for glucose transport to the brain. Anthocyanins and related compounds seem able to decrease capillary permeability (possibly by stabilizing membrane phospholipids). Animal studies have also shown that if the blood-brain barrier becomes damaged and too permeable, anthocyanins help restore normal permeability.

In general, we have plenty of evidence that Dr. Packer is right when he says, "Flavonoids are a brain booster." But their action goes beyond mere "boosting." At least some flavonoids can apparently repair the age-related damage to the neurons-and here the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in blueberries, bilberry extract and grape seed extract (or red wine and purple grape juice) are the best candidates for this starring new role in the anti-aging regimen.

Berries, true eye-openers

The public became interested in bilberry extract after the news about its vision-improving benefits. Bilberry flavonoids appear to protect the retina and enhance the production of rhodopsin, also called the visual purple. Rhodopsin is a protein necessary for near vision. Exposure to light, particularly bright daylight, high-contrast lights or even computer screens deplete rhodopsin, resulting in poor night vision. A sufficient dose of bilberry anthocyanins apparently leads to an increase in rhodopsin.

The first anecdotal reports about the effectiveness of bilberries came from British pilots who consumed bilberry jam in order to improve their night vision. This story became so widely known to the readers of popular alternative health magazines that unfortunately for quite a while the public assumed that the only benefits of bilberry extract relate to night vision. Later on we learned about bilberry in relation to enhanced mirocirculation in the retina. Even now, many people assume that the benefits of bilberry extract are confined to vision. This is reminiscent of a similar development in regard to glutathione. Because glutathione is present in especially high levels in the lens of the eye, early research focused on the role of glutathione in vision; the understanding of glutathione's primary role as the body's main antioxidant, detoxifier, anti-inflammatory and possibly the key anti-aging compound came only later.

This is not to deny that the protection of the retina is indeed extremely important. Interestingly, it was not in England, but in Italy that most studies on bilberry extract and vision were performed, mostly in the late 1980s. One study achieved an unprecedented 97% success in halting cataract progression using bilberry extract and vitamin E. In another exciting study, bilberryextract improved vision in 75% of nearsighted subjects. A German study using a combination of vitamin E and anthocyanins found either a stabilization of myopia or an actual improvement in visual acuity in the majority of patients, whereas the control group showed further deterioration. The progressive nature of myopia is one of axioms of traditional ophthalmology: once you become near-sighted, the older you get, the more near-sighted you get, requiring a stronger prescription every couple of years. Hence, it is truly revolutionary to note that a group of naturally occurring flavonoids has been shown to either arrest or even reverse the progression of myopia.
Please note: those who wish to experiment with bilberry extract for reversing myopia should understand that there is no guarantee of this benefit. On the other hand, there is nothing to lose, since it is likely that at least the progressive deterioration of vision can be arrested. In addition, bilberry extract has many other health benefits, typical for phenolic antioxidants.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease