Huckleberry: an amazing superfood

Huckleberries might not be as popular as other berries, but they are hugely nutritious.

Mostly found in wild habits of Canada or the eastern United States, huckleberries look similar to blueberries. Is it safe to consume huckleberries while hiking through these regions? The answer is yes, you surely can eat them. The huckleberry belongs to the family of Ericaceae. Of course, blueberry and huckleberry come from similar families, but, they are different in many ways. The cluster size is smaller in the case of huckleberries than in blueberries. From the inside, huckleberries are reddish or pink compared to the whitish core of blueberries. Also, huckleberries contain bigger seeds than blueberries. Keeping these aside, let's just focus on the nutritional value and health benefits of consuming huckleberries. Taste-wise, huckleberries are mildly tart to sweet. The seeds are bitter in taste, so throw them. Go through this article to know more.

The nutritional profile of huckleberries:

Huckleberries are enriched with vitamins A, B complex, and C, antioxidants in the form of anthocyanin and polyphenols. At least, 15 anthocyanins have been isolated from huckleberries till now. The list comprises some really important phytochemicals like glucoside, galactoside, cyanidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin.

Huckleberries promote heart health:

Phytochemicals-enriched huckleberries fight against heart disease by reducing inflammation and cholesterol concentrations. Also, blood circulation is promoted which improves cardiovascular functioning. Thus, regular consumption of huckleberries can prevent various heart-related diseases.

Huckleberries boost immunity:

Thanks to the abundance of antioxidants, Huckleberry is an essential food to improve your immunity. It's much better than any immunity booster supplements available on the market. Also, essential polyphenols prevent cellular damage by reducing oxidative stress. These fruits should be added to your diet considering the rapid rise in autoimmune diseases.

Huckleberries are good for skin and eyes:

An abundance of vitamin C in huckleberries promotes skin health by upregulating collagen production. Regular consumption will make your skin radiant and youthful. Huckleberries prevent skin cell damage due to excessive exposure to sunlight. Also, your eyesight is promoted by huckleberry consumption. Some reports have confirmed that phytochemicals in huckleberries can prevent macular degeneration and associated vision loss.

Other benefits of consuming huckleberries:

Huckleberries are believed to be promoting metabolic rate. It also improves blood circulation and reduces the risks of anemia.

Believe it or not, huckleberries are as or more nutritious than other berries. However, it’s only available in a few supermarkets.