What are lingonberry benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are lingonberry pros and cons and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on lingonberry benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about lingonberry benefits and side effects. This will include lingonberry benefits for your health and potential risks, lingonberry water footprint and lingonberry carbon footprint, lingonberry sustainability, if lingonberry are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if lingonberry are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about lingonberry benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Lingonberry Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Lingonberry health benefits may include:
- brain function
- eye health
- memory
- UTI prevention (urinary tract infections)
- gut health
- healthy blood sugar levels
- hydration
- detoxification
- cancer prevention
- heart health
- kidney health
- reduced inflammation
- reduced risk of high blood pressure
- heart disease, and other conditions
- diabetes and hypertension treatment and prevention
- improved skin conditions
- oral health
- relieved skin wrinkles and colored spots
- weight control
Lingonberries are…
- Alkaline pH level (fresh) Acidic pH level (dried) once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a Common Food Allergen
- Other names for lingonberries are partridgeberry, mountain cranberry and cowberry
Environment
Water footprint: low, lingonberries require very little water and thus have a relatively low water footprint
Carbon footprint: likely low, 0.9 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fruits, a car driving equivalent of 2 miles or 3.25 kilometers
Destruction: low, lingonberry production is relatively sustainable, there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. when using regenerative practices, lingonberries are extremely hardy, tolerating extremely low temperatures and even nutrient-poor soils
Lingonberries are…
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, lingonberry production does not require any animals
Harms: none, lingonberry production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, lingonberry production does not indirectly kill or harm animals as long as there are no toxic chemicals, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Lingonberries are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers often experience exploitation, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Lingonberries…
- May have labor issues
Where do most lingonberries come from? 📍
In the USA lingonberries are mostly from Oregon and Washington.
They are native to the Northern Hemisphere from Europe and Asia to North America, specifically throughout the boreal forest and Arctic tundra. Wild lingonberries accompany a variety of dishes in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Canada and Alaska.
The world’s top lingonberry exporting country is Peru, followed by Spain, Chile, Mexico, USA, Morocco, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa and Poland.
What are lingonberries uses? 🍴
Lingonberries uses include raw or cooked to make lingonberry jam, compote, juices, smoothies, syrup, cocktails or simply mashed with sugar.
You can also use lingonberries for food coloring and medicinal purposes.
Are lingonberries nutritious? 🥗
Yes! Lingonberries are high in vitamin C, vitamin A (as beta carotene), B vitamins (B1, B2, B3), and the elements potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
The are a good source of flavonols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, free amino acids, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals.
When are lingonberries in season? 📅
Lingonberries ripen in late summer to autumn.
Late September is the optimal collecting time for those who prefer sweeter lingonberries.
lingonberries are alkaline when fresh and acidic when dried.
Are lingonberries alkaline or acidic?
Lingonberries are alkaline when fresh and acidic when dried.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
lingonberries are gluten free. lingonberry benefits include fitting into a gluten free diet.
Are lingonberries are gluten free?
Yes, lingonberries are gluten free. Lingonberries do not contain gluten.
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
lingonberries are not a common food allergen.
Are lingonberries a common food allergen?
No, lingonberries are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to lingonberries but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
lingonberries have a low water footprint. lingonberry benefits include not requiring too much water.
Do lingonberries have a high or low water footprint?
Lingonberries have a low water footprint.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
lingonberries likely have a low carbon footprint.
Do lingonberries have a high or low carbon footprint?
Lingonberries likely have a low carbon footprint.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
lingonberries are sustainable.
Overall, are lingonberries eco friendly and sustainable?
Lingonberry production is relatively sustainable. Additionally, lingonberries are extremely hardy, tolerating extremely low temperatures and even nutrient-poor soils. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
lingonberries are vegan. lingonberry benefits include not killing, harming or using animals.
Are lingonberries vegan?
Yes, lingonberries are vegan. Lingonberries are a fruit berry and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. So speak for animals with your actions, they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
lingonberries may or may not have labor issues.
Are lingonberries a product that has known labor issues?
At this time, there are no known specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding lingonberry farming but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Lingonberries may or may not have labor issues.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Also, workers can experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Such mistreatment is like to modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Additionally, fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards. So we can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Conclusion
Lingonberry pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Lingonberry cons include:
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
This post was all about lingonberry benefits and side effects.
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