Connections to Health - What World War II taught us about jam

THE ISHTA HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTRE

CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

What World War II taught us about jam

Here's an extraordinary fact.
In World War II, British Royal Air Force pilots discovered that during their nightly bombing runs, their sight was much better if they'd been eating bilberry jam.

These claims led to a great deal of research into the effects of bilberry fruit extracts on the eyes until, in the 1960s, scientists at last realised why the jam was so beneficial.

Bilberries contain anthocyanosides, chemicals that improve blood circulation and protect fragile capillaries in the eyes. These enzymes are crucial to vision and to the eye's ability to adapt to the dark.
In the 1980s, Italian researchers reported that 76% of their test subjects reported a strong improvement in their short-sightedness after being given 150mg per day of a blueberry extract, plus vitamin A, for 15 days.

Further research has found that bilberry may also reduce chronic eye fatigue, severe near-sightedness, and day blindness.

If you are a heavy computer user, operate machinery, or fly bombing missions over Germany, then bilberry jam for breakfast every day could be the answer.

The most popular bilberry supplements are extracts consisting of 15% to 25% of 'anthocyanosides'. You usually take 240-480 mg each day. Bilberry extract is non-toxic, with no reported side-effects.

A better way to up your intake might be to do as our World War II pilots did... and eat some jam every day.

Try this recipe

Because of its rich juice, the Bilberry is the fruit that needs the least amount of sugar when turning it into jam - just half a pound of sugar to a pound of berries.
To make bilberry jam, put 3 lb. of clean, fresh bilberries in a preserving pan with 1 1/2 lb. of sugar and about one cupful of water.
Bring to the boil for 40 minutes, cool and then store in screw-top jars.
If you can't get hold of bilberry then use blueberries, a close cousin. In fact they are often confused, with bilberries being called blue berries and vice versa.

And there you have it... health-on-toast.