Saturday, May 31, 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.

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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Use of obesity drugs surges in Finland

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Sales of obesity medication have skyrocketed in Finland in just a few years.

The use of obesity medication increased significantly in Finland last year – many more Finns were treated for obesity compared to 2023. At the same time, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of the treatment.

A total of 75,000 Finns used medicines for weight loss or obesity treatment in 2024. This is an increase of 20% compared to 2023, according to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). In five years, the number of users has increased more than elevenfold.

Semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is the most popular. Originally designed as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this type of medicine is not reimbursed if it is used for obesity alone. This means that Finns have to foot the bill themselves, which can be over €260 each month.

It is also unclear how effective this type of weight loss medication really is, but Pia Pajunen, an expert physician at Kela, says it is not a quick fix for losing weight.

If you stop using the obesity medication, the weight often starts to increase again quickly. It’s important that both doctors and patients are aware that research shows these medications generally need to be used long-term, she says in a press release.

Good fitness may prevent dementia

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

People at risk of dementia can reduce their risk by improving their fitness, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet. The study shows that the risk can be reduced by up to 35%.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers used data from 61,214 dementia-free people, drawn from the UK Biobank database. The participants, who were aged between 39 and 70, were followed over a period of 12 years.

On enrollment, participants completed a six-minute cycle test to measure fitness, and neurological tests were done to estimate their cognitive function. The researchers also examined genetic predisposition to dementia.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 553 people were diagnosed with dementia, representing 0.9%.

The results show that better fitness is linked to reduced dementia risk and improved cognitive function. According to Weili Xu, Professor of Geriatric Epidemiology in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, good fitness can reduce the risk of all forms of dementia by up to 35%.

– Our findings suggest that maintaining good fitness may be a strategy for preventing dementia, even among people with high genetic susceptibility, she says in a press release.

The researchers also emphasize that this is an observational study, so it is not possible to determine cause and effect. The number of dementia cases may also have been underestimated, they add, as UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population.

Ultra-processed food may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Published 21 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Extra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a particularly increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study from Lund University.

Ultra-processed food is food that has undergone extensive processing and contains a high proportion of added chemicals compared to “regular” processed food. This type of food is often cheap, heavily marketed and has become an increasingly important part of the Western diet in recent years.

In the study, published in Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed 27 670 participants from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study over 23 years, with funding from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.

The results show that a high intake of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to an increased risk of premature death, death from cardiovascular disease and death from respiratory disease. There is an increased risk for women.

– Over-processed foods are often rich in salt, fat and added sugars, but often poor in fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Limiting intake can reduce the risk of premature death, says Emily Sonestedt, associate professor at Lund University and lead researcher of the study, in a press release.

Ultra-processed food is markedly different from what humans have been eating for thousands of years, but the long-term effects on health have yet to be studied in depth. However, links between this type of food have previously been made to depression and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the researchers point out that more studies are needed on the subject.

–  More research is needed to better understand how ultra-processed food affects the body. In future studies, we will be able to analyze current dietary data in the Swedish population and learn more about the relationship with cardiovascular disease, says Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.

Sauerkraut may help your stomach

Published 11 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Sauerkraut may protect the intestinal lining from inflammation, according to an American study. During fermentation, the nutritional content of cabbage changes – including an increase in levels of lactic acid, amino acids, and other beneficial substances that are formed during the breakdown and can promote gut health.

Fermentation is a natural process where microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and yeast break down sugars in food. This often results in the conversion of sugar into lactic acid or alcohol. The process not only helps preserve the food – it also produces probiotics, meaning live bacteria that are beneficial for the gut.

Fermented foods have been eaten for thousands of years around the world. For example, eating fermented vegetables makes the nutrients in the food easier for the body to absorb, and some studies show that vitamin levels can actually increase. There are also studies that suggest fermented foods can have positive effects on health, particularly for digestion and the immune system.

Sauerkraut better than raw cabbage

Researchers at the University of California Davis in the USA tested whether the nutrients in sauerkraut could help protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage. The study compared sauerkraut, raw cabbage, and the brine left over after the cabbage fermentation process.

The experiments were conducted on an artificial intestinal wall exposed to inflammation by adding so-called cytokines – which are known to damage the intestinal lining. These can be activated in the gut, for example, by consuming too much ultra-processed food or too much sugar or salt.

Fermentation increases beneficial substances

The results showed that sauerkraut can protect the intestinal lining from inflammation caused by cytokines. Raw cabbage and the brine, however, did not help protect the gut. It didn’t matter whether the sauerkraut was store-bought or homemade.

Chemical analyses show that fermentation changes the nutritional profile of cabbage and increases the amount of beneficial metabolites such as lactic acid, amino acids, and plant compounds, which in turn are linked to gut health. These changes may explain why fermented foods are often associated with digestive benefits.

– Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we’re finding to be made by the gut microbiome, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense, says Professor Maria Marco in a press release.

The researchers have found hundreds of different metabolites that are formed during fermentation and that they are now working to determine which ones play the biggest role in supporting long-term gut health. The next step in the research is to conduct studies in humans to see if the gut-protective metabolites found in sauerkraut can have the same positive effects when included in the daily diet, as was shown in the lab.

A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way, she says. We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.

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