Wild Arctic Lingonberry

WILD ARCTIC LINGONBERRY

Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea L.

Lingonberries grow in the northern hemisphere as a lowbush wild shrub. The plant has stems between 5 and 30 centimetres long that grow erect or ascending. Unlike some plants that lose leaves in the autumn, the lingonberry plant keeps its glaucous leaves and they even survive the winter. It has round, red and juicy berries that are slightly acidic. The berries are ready to be picked between the end of August and the beginning of October. Their red berries are rich in bioactive polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. They have traditionally been used to treat thrush and oral yeast- infections. Lingonberries are nature’s own vitamin, mineral and polyphenol pills. Polyphenols are produced by forest plants to protect their berries. Nature’s own regulation system has developed these protective substances for berries over thousands of years.

Nutritional value

The lingonberry has almost no calories (18 kcal per 100 ml). It is virtually fat-free and does not contain any saturated fat. Lingonberries also have vitamin E and are a source of dietary fibre. They contain many minerals (e.g. potassium, magnesium and manganese) and micronutrients (e.g. zinc and iron). Arctic lingonberries are rich in polyphenols, for example, lignans, resveratrol, quercetin and proanthocyanidins. It contains more lignans than any other berry species. It is also rich in organic acids, which play an important role as natural preservatives in berries and other foods. Lingonberries are known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-cancerous properties and are considered beneficial to health.