In recent years, we’ve discovered a wide range of foods that we can use for medicine in a sense. These foods have health benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving energy levels, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Lingonberries haven’t always been popular throughout the world, but they’re starting to be. They are an excellent source of nutrients and have a variety of health benefits—plus they’re delicious. Here are some of the health benefits you can enjoy when you eat lingonberries.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are your body’s primary defense against free radicals. The damage caused by free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which is thought to play a role in the development of cancer and blood vessel disease. The best way to prevent oxidative stress is to consume plenty of antioxidants. Lingonberries, sometimes called partridgeberries or foxberries, are high in antioxidants, so supplementing your diet with them can actually help reduce your risk of getting these diseases.
Inflammation
Recent research has shown that inflammation may be one of the causes of many of the diseases we face. Not only this, inflammation is one of the main causes of pain in our bodies. Because of this, it’s important to include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet. Lingonberries are a great anti-inflammatory food because they have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can be consumed in a wide variety of ways.
Cancer Cell Growth
Cancer is a deadly disease for various reasons, but one of the biggest is its ability to multiply and take over your entire body. Studies have shown that lingonberries may actually inhibit cancer cell growth to the degree that eating lingonberries can help fight against and prevent cancer in the body. Eating lingonberries isn’t a sure-fire way to avoid cancer, but there is solid evidence that shows they may play a role in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria build up in the urinary tract and leads to an infection. In a study where women with urinary tract infections caused by E. coli were separated into three different groups, the women who consumed lingonberry on a regular basis had a lower chance of getting a UTI. Cranberries, a close relative of the lingonberry, are also a great natural remedy for UTIs.
Mouth Health
Many of the problems in our mouths are a result of bacteria growing in there. Inhibiting the growth of bacteria in our mouths can lead to better breath and fewer oral problems. Lingonberries are a natural antimicrobial food, so eating them can actually improve your mouth health by inhibiting bacterial growth. And of course, they’ll leave you with fruity fresh breath you won’t get from eating a big juicy steak.
Vitamins A and C
Vitamins are one of the most important reasons for eating any fruit or vegetable, and they’re present in large amounts in lingonberries. The main vitamins found in lingonberries include vitamins A and C. These vitamins can help improve your immune system, keep your eyes working well, and form healthy blood vessels, connective tissue and skin. If you can eat just a third-cup of lingonberries each day, you’ll be getting 10% of your daily vitamin A and 12% of your daily vitamin C.
Blood Sugar
One of the biggest health benefits of the lingonberry is its ability to help lower your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause damage to vital organs and is especially risky for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Supplementing your diet with lingonberries is a good way to combat diabetes and keep your blood sugar levels in check. Lingonberries are also low in sugar when you eat them raw, so they’re good for low-sugar diets.
Weight Loss
With the rise of obesity in America and other countries in recent years, weight loss supplements have become increasingly popular. Thankfully, you can skip the supplements and go straight for the lingonberries. Lingonberries have been shown to combat the effects of a high-fat diet to aid in weight loss and prevent obesity. A third-cup of lingonberries has just 25 calories, 2g of carbs, and 1g of protein.
Age Spots
Lingonberry isn’t just used as food, it’s also used in other things like skincare products. This is because of lingonberries’ ability to help fight the aging process. In fact, using lingonberry seed oil on your skin is a great way to reduce age spots. Even simply eating lingonberries can help fight the effects of aging since they’re packed with vitamins and other health benefits.
How to Eat Them
One of the best parts about the lingonberry is the fact that it’s easy to add to your diet. You can buy lingonberries and eat them plain, or you can buy a lingonberry jam to put on toast or biscuits. There are options to buy lingonberry wine or use it to make pancakes, top salmon, or add some flavor to a chicken dish. You can also buy one of the many lingonberry products on the market, including lingonberry shampoo, lingonberry body butter, and lingonberry tea.