Thursday, September 18, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Crowberry – anonymous northern superberry

Published 21 July 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Crowberry wine is said to have been made in the Nordic countries as early as the 12th century.
5 minute read

This black berry may not be as tasty as blueberries, but it is just as healthy. With high levels of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, the crowberry is a super berry in all its glory that is both widely eaten and used in folk medicine.

The crowberry is a black berry similar to the blueberry, but smaller, harder and with larger seeds. Its leaves are coniferous, making it easy to recognize and not to be confused with other plants. They are found in most parts of the country and are almost as common as blueberries, but unlike blueberries, crowberries do not stain hands and clothing. The berry can be picked from July until the first snow falls. Overripe berries can be picked in the spring.

Not food for crows

According to archaeologists, crowberries were one of the earliest plants to appear after the Ice Age. The oldest traces found in fecal remains are 10,000 years old and were found in Balltorp outside Gothenburg. In Sweden, however, there is a difference between where they have been eaten most. In the northern parts of the country, with a border at Gävle and Falun, crowberries are said to have been eaten a lot. But not so much in the southern parts. The reason may be that there are two different types of crowberries, a northern and a southern variety. The northern berries are said to be tastier, but it is difficult to tell them apart with the naked eye.

The name does not imply that it is a berry that the crow eats, but rather that it is something that the bear likes to eat along with blueberries. Historically, however, the crow was considered unlucky, and darker berries were often considered inedible, which may be the reason for the name “crowberry”. The crow also appears in the name of the berry in Swedish, kråkbär, Finnish variksenmarja, and German krähenbeere.

Although the crow may not eat the berries, other birds do. Because the berries do not spoil during the winter, they are an important food source for returning migratory birds. Smaller animals such as stoats also like to eat them.

The berries have been very important in Sami culture, where they were eaten in soups or with hot reindeer fat. It was also common to mix crowberries with milk or whey, according to Finnish national broadcaster Yle. According to a book on the Finnish Scots written by the late ethnographer Samuli Paulaharju, crowberries were the only berries that the Sami people gathered for the winter.

They were also widely eaten in Finland and Norway. In Norway, they may also be called “silence berries” or “comfort berries”, probably because they were a source of comfort when there was nothing else available for a dry throat while hiking in the forest, according to the Norwegian Helsemagasinet. The berries were also often used to make ink or paint for clothing or fishing nets.

Folk medicine

Crowberries have been used as a diuretic and laxative in folk medicine, where they have been called “pee berries” in Norway. Children are said to have been warned not to eat them in the evening because of the risk of bedwetting. They were also used to treat scurvy and mouth ulcers, which could be treated by gargling decoctions of the berries. According to Skogsskafferiet, a tea made from unripe green berries was used to treat kidney stones.

They have also been used to treat headaches, fever, and fatigue.

Health benefits

Along with blueberries, crowberries contain the highest levels of anthocyanin, an antioxidant and the substance that gives the berries their dark color. A 2008 Japanese study identified thirteen different anthocyanins in crowberries. Researchers analyzed the total anthocyanin content of crowberries, blueberries, and eight other common berries and found that crowberries had the highest levels.

They also contain flavonoids, which also act as antioxidants. Antioxidants can, for example, protect against oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

According to a Finnish study, crowberries grown in areas prone to early frost have higher levels of anthocyanins. They also contain more vitamin C than lingonberries.

Crowberries are also high in fiber, more than most imported fruits. The berries are also said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Crowberry Uses

Crowberries can taste a bit rough, bitter and sour, but can be eaten fresh in the forest, they are perfect if you need some extra energy on a hike. However, they should taste better when pickled or juiced. They should also be good in jams or juices with other berries, such as currants. The leaves can be used to make tea. If you want to preserve the benefits of the berries a little longer, you can make unheated juice, as Anu Tossavainen does. She makes the juice without boiling it and sweetening it with honey instead of sugar.

– You can’t ruin your day if you start it with a glass of crowberry juice, she says, according to Yle.

You can also dry the berries and use them in porridge or a smoothie. You can also freeze the berries and use them later. Like lingonberries, you can also keep fresh berries in water in a jar in the fridge, where they will stay fresh longer.

Crowberry wine

It is said that crowberry wine has been made in Norway since the 12th century, during the reign of King Sverre Sigurdsson. It is said that German merchants imported so much wine to Norway that it became as cheap as beer, which also increased the number of drunks in the country. King Sverre found this problematic and told the Norwegians that it was the people’s duty to look after themselves and maintain public order, which the people listened to and the German merchants were no longer allowed to import wine. The king, who is said to have had a good knowledge of nature after growing up in the Faroe Islands, suggested that instead of importing German wine, they should make their own from crowberries. This is still the case today, and several Norwegian companies produce crowberry wine. Crowberries can also be used to flavor spirits.

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Broccoli may protect against colorectal cancer

Published 15 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Delicious on the plate and delicious for your health.
2 minute read

People who eat more broccoli and cauliflower have a lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to a Chinese study. However, moderate amounts are sufficient to achieve the protective effect.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer worldwide and is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

In Sweden, colorectal cancer has increased among young people over the past thirty years, and mortality from this form of cancer has increased among patients in all age groups for up to ten years after cancer diagnosis.

In the study, which was published in BMC Gastroenterology, researchers analyzed data from 17 previous studies, with a total of 639,539 participants, including 97,595 cases of colorectal cancer.

The purpose was to investigate whether higher vegetable intake corresponded to greater risk reduction for this form of cancer and, if so, the specific amounts at which this effect became significant.

The results showed that those who ate more cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts, had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who ate less.

Photo: Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels

Glucosinolates

These vegetables contain many beneficial substances such as vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. But what makes them extra special are compounds called glucosinolates. When you chew these vegetables, glucosinolates break down into other compounds called isothiocyanates – particularly one called sulforaphane.

These are the compounds that give the vegetables their strong, sometimes slightly bitter taste and smell. These are also the compounds believed to be cancer-preventive.

The researchers found that the greatest risk reduction was observed between 20 and 40 grams, but no significant improvement was seen above 40 grams per day.

The study was conducted at the Second Clinical Medical School of Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities in Yakeshi, China.

Thousands of Swedes unaware of their high blood pressure

Published 14 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Nine out of ten Swedes are expected to be affected by hypertension at some point during their lifetime.
2 minute read

Every other person with high blood pressure lacks knowledge of their diagnosis. Therefore, new national guidelines are now being developed.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is very common and it is estimated that nine out of ten Swedes will be affected by it at some point during their lifetime. Having high blood pressure means a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, among other conditions.

Today, approximately three million Swedes are estimated to suffer from it, but half don’t know about it. Women run a higher risk of being affected by cardiovascular diseases linked to lower blood pressure levels compared to men, yet despite this, 40 percent of women aged 35 to 49 are unaware of their blood pressure values, according to a report from the Swedish Heart-Lung Association earlier this year.

One in three Swedes don’t know their values, something that Mattias Brunström, associate professor of epidemiology at Umeå University in northern Sweden and chairman of the national working group for hypertension, believes needs to change.

If we could catch more people, we would avoid 30,000 cases of heart attack, stroke and heart failure in Sweden annually, he tells TT.

New guidelines

New guidelines will be presented in Sweden during the autumn. Today, the so-called blood pressure target is 140/90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury), but will be lowered to 130/80.

It’s important to clarify that we’re not changing the threshold for what constitutes high blood pressure. What’s changing is that blood pressure should be treated to lower levels than today, says Brunström, who has been involved in developing the new guidelines.

Furthermore, doctors will also be recommended to prescribe two medications directly to be able to lower blood pressure faster.

High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms, which is why many people walk around with it without knowing about it. However, one can experience symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, but the only way to be sure is to regularly check your blood pressure.

The Swedish Heart-Lung Association recommends that people under 40 check their blood pressure at least every three years, and thereafter should do so annually.

Through regular check-ups, one can detect early the need for support for lifestyle changes, medical treatment, or both, says Anders Åkesson, chairman of the Swedish Heart-Lung Association, in a press release.

Study: Ultra-processed food impacts men’s reproductive ability

Published 13 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In just three weeks, the health of young Danish men deteriorated markedly, a new study shows.
2 minute read

Just three weeks of ultra-processed food is enough to worsen young men’s sperm quality and testosterone levels, shows a new study from the University of Copenhagen. The men also gained weight compared to when they ate regular food – despite identical calorie intake.

Ultra-processed food is, in short, food that is industrially manufactured and contains a range of different ingredients, and is often a large part of especially Western diets today. Everything from bread, cereals, protein powder to candy, chips and ready meals can be classified as ultra-processed food. Previous studies have linked ultra-processed food to cardiovascular disease, depression, weight gain as well as nutritional deficiency.

Three weeks is enough

In the study, which was published in Cell Metabolism, 43 Danish men between 25 and 30 years old participated. First, the men ate only ultra-processed food for three weeks, then followed three weeks with minimally processed food. Both diets contained the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories – the only difference was the degree of processing. Some of the men received a calorie intake adapted to their weight, while others received a surplus of about 500 calories. Between the two diets, the men had a 12-week break where they ate their usual diet.

The results show clear health deteriorations after the period with ultra-processed food, compared to when they ate less processed food. The men gained about one kilogram in body fat and their cardiovascular health deteriorated – regardless of which calorie intake they had. Additionally, the men had worse sperm quality and their testosterone levels dropped.

We are shocked by the results, says one of the researchers behind the study, Romain Barrés, professor at the University of Copenhagen at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research to forskning.no and continues:

It’s really alarming to think about what happens if you eat such food year after year. The consequences can be serious and chronic.

The study supports previous research that points to ultra-processed food potentially being harmful to health, but also strengthens the hypothesis that this type of food contains calories that are more fat-forming compared to home-cooked food. The researchers now hope that the study will influence politicians when they make decisions about diet and health for Danes.

These products, which harm our health, are everywhere in our supermarkets, says Barrés.

Study: More health problems at higher radiation levels

Published 12 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The most common symptoms were fatigue, headaches, increased irritability, sleep problems and anxiety.
2 minute read

People exposed to higher levels of microwave radiation report more health symptoms, shows a new Indian study. The correlation was particularly clear for fatigue, headaches and sleep problems.

The study, which was published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, examined 183 people between 18 and 80 years old who had lived in the same home for at least one year in the city of Shillong in northeastern India. Researchers from Mizoram University in India measured microwave radiation in each residence and then divided participants into three groups based on the measured values.

The first group had the lowest levels (0–3,000 μW/m²) and included 43 participants. The second group had medium levels (3,000–5,000 μW/m²) with 49 participants, while the third and largest group had the highest levels (5,000–8,000 μW/m²) with 91 participants.

All participants answered a questionnaire about over 20 different symptoms.

The results showed that people in the highest exposure group reported significantly more health problems than the other groups. Even the medium group reported more symptoms than the lowest group. The researchers also discovered that people under 40 years old reported more inflammation-related symptoms.

Clearer symptoms among heavy phone users

The most common symptoms in the most exposed group were fatigue, headaches, increased irritability, sleep problems and anxiety. The symptoms were also more pronounced among people who used mobile phones more than five hours per day or lived within 50 meters of a base station.

To put the results in perspective: the Swedish reference value from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is 10 million μW/m², which means that all levels in the study were at least 1,250 times below this value.

The researchers concluded that exposure level was the only factor that affected the number of symptoms for all four examined health categories. The study confirms previous research that has linked health effects to radiation from mobile base stations. According to the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, fatigue, headaches and sleep problems are particularly common symptoms among people who live near 5G towers.

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