Quote:
Originally Posted by Screamadelica
According to several stories from crews serving with Bomber Command, due to the shortage of food supplies during the war, the crews used to eat sandwiches made with Bilberry jam whilst on flights. After a month or two they reported a marked improvement in their night vision and their ability to spot incoming enemy aircraft at greater distances.
This had been backed up by testimonies from several people I know recently who have stated it has reduced eyestrain from sitting in front of a computer screen for long periods of time.
Could be a way to help spot those pesky 109s. Bilberry tea anyone?  |
wiki said this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilberry
Often associated with improvement of night vision, bilberries are mentioned in a popular story of World War II RAF pilots consuming bilberry jam to sharpen vision for night missions. However, a recent study[5] by the U.S. Navy found no such effect and origins of the RAF story cannot be found.[6] After the introduction of radar, RAF bombing became more accurately targeted, but to confuse the enemy, the story was leaked that it "was something in the pilots' diet" that improved their targeting - that something, however, was carrots, not bilberries, and the story was concocted merely to keep the Germans from knowing the real reason for improved accuracy.
Although the effect of bilberry on night vision is unfounded, laboratory studies in rats have provided preliminary evidence that bilberry consumption may inhibit or reverse eye disorders such as macular degeneration.[7]
Bilberries are recognized as a good source of flavonoids, some of which have antioxidant activity.[8]
As a deep purple fruit, bilberries contain anthocyanin pigments.
in my opinion it most likely does something to improve eye sight or the eye and related organs, one of these improvements MAY manifest it self as making the individual perception at night better, but like most things regarding humans it will effect everyone differently and many factors including environment may factor in to this....