WATCH: Calvin To tells us what scientists have found about the potential health benefits of the Salal berry.
A new study from the University of Victoria shows Salal berries could be bursting with health benefits.
Dr. Peter Constabel, one of the study's co-authors, says the berries have three times the antioxidants and five times the tannins found in blueberries.
"The compounds that are in Salal have been associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases like Type 2 diabetes," Dr. Constabel said.
The information is the culmination of a five-year study, where local samples were sent to labs in Finland and Germany for analysis.
Tannins and anti-oxidants play an important role in fighting aging on a cellular level.
"Antioxidants are beneficial to people in helping reduce the signs of aging," said PhD candidate Gerry Gourlay. "The wrinkles around the eyes are one particular sign that antioxidants can be extremely beneficial for."
Salal berries are a traditional Indigenous food going back thousands of years.
They are a native species of Vancouver Island.