If you struggle with poor circulation, winter can be tough! Chronically cold hands and feet lessen the merriment of the cooler months. You can naturally improve your circulation with bilberry.
Why do women often feel colder than men?
Compared to our male counterparts, women often have less muscle mass. Muscles are natural heat producers. So toning up is a great way to naturally improve your body temperature regulation!
Join me for private yoga and group classes to build muscle and improve body temperature regulation.
Women also have 6 – 11 % more body fat than men. While body fat may insulate our organs, it restricts blood flow– and precious heat–to the extremities. That means that we often have colder hands and feet.
Fortunately, there are herbal remedies to improve circulation and reduce cold hands and feet. Bilberry is a super fruit from northern Europe that may help your feel cozier from the inside, out.
What is a Bilberry?
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is the Northern European cousin of the North American blueberry. They are similar in appearance, nutrient composition, culinary and medicinal use. As such, they are easy to integrate into our lives in teas, cooking, and snacking.
Bilberry to Improve Circulation
Bilberries contain anthocyanosides. The compounds strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. As a result, you may be able to better moderate the temperature in your hands and feet with continued consumption of bilberry.
Shop bilberry tea in our Etsy shop!
Additional Benefits of Bilberry
Circulation is a key factor in eye health. By improving circulation (and with the help of its other chemical components) bilberry is respected for in use in the treatment of retinopathy, night vision, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataract, and general eye fatigue and redness.
Bilberry also plays a role in heart health, including improving HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Simultaneously, it can help moderate blood pressure and insulin levels.
The blue superfruit is an excellent antioxidant and it is anti-inflammatory. Both contribute to its ability to soothe the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and improve brain function, particularly long-term memory.
Contraindication for Bilberry
As a loose leaf tea, bilberry is generally considered safe. You will want to consult your trusted clinician if you opt for bilberry concentrates (capsules, powders, tinctures, etc.) as these may interact with medicines used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and bleeding disorders.
