Honeyberries - The Next Nutrient-Rich Superfruit

Move over blueberries, honeyberries are quickly moving up the berry food chain as the up-and-coming super fruit! Not only are they great for baking, jam-making, and snack-taking, the numerous health benefits of honeyberries make them a nutritional powerhouse. Sour-sweet to the tastebuds, honeyberries are also known as 'haskap' or 'fly honeysuckle' and origniated in Eastern Siberia. Honeyberries are elongated in shape and similar to the blueberry in both flavor and appearance - but with a lot more health benefits!

Health Benefits of Honeyberries

Honeyberries are jam-packed with antioxidants, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, phenolic acid, and iron.  Not only do they have twice the Vitamin A, and four times the Vitamin C of blueberries, they also surpass blueberries, mulberries, black currants, and blackberries as having the highest level of anthocyanins.  Anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant pigments in blue- and red-tinted fruits.  Anthocyanins are linked with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, and cardio-protective properties.  Listed here are some of the health benefits associated with honeyberries:

1. Anti Inflammatory Agent - Polyphenols and anthocyanin have anti-inflammatory properties and may help prevent or fight certain inflammatory ailments such as gingivitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Eye Health - Anthocyanin helps increase circulation within the retinal capillaries, helps fight macular degeneration, and prevents retinopathy in diabetics.
3. Cardiovascular Benefits - Anthocyanin promotes healthy veins by irradicating the enzymes that destroy connective tissue, repairing damaged proteins in blood-vessels walls, and improving circulation.  Honeyberries also contain significant levels of chlorogenic acid, which may help in controlling blood pressure.
4. Anti-Diabetic Effects - Anthocyanin has a beneficial impact on insulin and glucose sensitivity.
5. Reduces Urinary Tract Infections - Helps prevent bacteria from binding to the bladder wall.
6. Fight Free Radicals - helps the body in fighting free radicals and may aid in avoiding various types of cancer .

Now that you know the health benefits of honeyberries, how are some ways you can work these natural berry wonders into your diet? Since the tender skins of honeyberries "disintegrate" when eaten, they make a great addition to yogurt, ice cream, and smoothies, and are also excellent for making jam, jellies, and fruit wine.  Long live the honeyberry!

Honeyberries are open for picking at Lyman Orchards 8am-4:30pm, weather permitting.  Call the 24-hour Pick Your Own hotline at 860-340-6015 for daily updates and picking conditions.