Bilberries are small berries native to Europe related to blueberries that have been used for many years for eye health.
My dad was the first to tell me about bilberry and its benefit for cataracts. He read about an Italian study on bilberry being beneficial for cataracts that really impressed him. The article he read was a small-scale study with people who had been diagnosed with early-stage cataracts that were given bilberry extract daily, the article reported that almost all of those in the study found that bilberry stopped the growth of their cataracts.
He’s been taking bilberry ever since (at least over a year) and he says he is sure that it’s helped, and that he even feels like his eyesight has even gotten better.
Other animal studies have also shown the benefit of bilberry for reducing the progression of cataracts as well as macular degeneration, with impressive results.
Bilberries are full of potent antioxidants that can help to combat oxidative damage in the body and are especially beneficial to the eyes, showing benefit for cataracts, macular degeneration, and even diabetic retinopathy- an eye condition that is a complication of diabetes that damages blood vessels in the eyes. Bilberries can also help with reducing inflammation throughout the body, and are also used to help with IBS, ulcerative colitis, and even to improve brain function.
My dad has been using Solaray’s One Daily Guaranteed Potency Bilberry every day and has been really happy with it, and that’s the one we recommend as well since it’s the strongest bilberry extract available per pill.
