Wednesday, February 02, 2011

It'll be a wild party!

It's been 15 years since Nova Scotia named the wild blueberry its official berry.

Nova Scotia's wild blueberry is worth $40 million in export sales to 30 countries.

Proclaimed the provincial berry on Jan. 11, 1996, the wild blueberry is often touted for its medicinal benefits.

"Early research suggested the antioxidant power of blueberries was responsible for health benefits," said Wilhelmina Kalt, research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who is investigating the berry's health attributes. "More recently, research indicates blueberries may be important in reducing inflammation that comes with disease and aging."

Health research is examining the blueberry's benefits in areas such as cardiovascular health, neuroscience, cancer, inflammation, aging and, more recently, diabetes and sight.

For more information about the wild blueberry or Select Nova Scotia, go to http://www.selectnovascotia.ca/.

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