So far, Maqui berry is honestly one of the best superfoods I’ve ever tried. It’s kind of like regular blueberries, but the taste is way more intense and better, the color is this nice neon purple, and it even smells nicer. Maqui comes with a ton of benefits—like lowering cholesterol and inflammation, balancing blood sugar, and boosting digestion thanks to all that fiber. It also improves my allergies and is refreshing, giving me energy boost after gym. I love tossing it into banana/chia smoothies, Maqui latte, water, yogurt, or homemade ice cream. It’s wild how many incredible things nature has to offer to us.

What is Maqui Berry (Aristotelia chilensis)?

Maqui berry, or Aristotelia chilensis, is a vibrant purple berry native to southern Chile. It’s been called a “queen berry” for good reason—Maqui is loaded with polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, that give it its color and superfood status. And the health benefits? Science is catching up to what locals have known for centuries.

Science-Backed Benefits of Maqui Berry

1. Balances Blood Sugar Naturally

Several studies show that Maqui berry extract (Delphinol®) can help lower blood sugar and improve insulin response—especially in people with prediabetes. In a 3-month clinical trial, daily supplementation with Maqui extract significantly reduced HbA1c (a marker of long-term blood sugar) and improved lipid profiles in prediabetic adults (Hidalgo et al., 2014).

2. Super High in Antioxidants

Maqui is one of the most antioxidant-rich berries on the planet—beating out even blueberries! Animal studies show that Maqui extract protects the brain from oxidative stress, which can help with memory and learning. This is all thanks to its sky-high anthocyanin content (Cespedes et al., 2017).

3. Supports Heart and Brain Health

Maqui may help prevent cardiovascular diseases by improving cholesterol, reducing platelet aggregation, and supporting healthy blood vessels. There’s even evidence it could help with depression and cognitive function (Cespedes et al., 2017).

4. Reduces Inflammation and Supports Gut Health

Maqui’s anti-inflammatory power isn’t just hype. Studies in mice show it can improve gut microbiota and help treat inflammatory bowel disease, making it a promising natural supplement for gut health (Palta et al., 2024).

5. Helps with Dry Eye Disease

If you struggle with dry eyes, Maqui berry extract has been shown to improve symptoms and reduce eye inflammation (Yamamoto et al., 2023).

6. May Improve Lung Function (Great for Allergy Sufferers!)

While most of the research is still in animal models, Maqui’s polyphenols show promise for protecting the lungs from inflammation and injury—good news for anyone with allergies or asthma (Romanucci et al., 2015).

References

• Hidalgo, J., et al. (2014). Delphinol® standardized maqui berry extract significantly lowers blood glucose and improves blood lipid profile in prediabetic individuals in three-month clinical trial. ResearchGate
• Cespedes, C. L., et al. (2017). The nutraceutical properties of maqui berry: A review. Nutrients, 9(6), 563. PMC
• Yamamoto, Y., et al. (2023). Effects of Maqui berry extract on dry eye disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients, 15(12), 2730. PMC
• Romanucci, E. M., et al. (2015). Polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis). Nutrition Journal, 14, 28. Nutrition Journal
• https://www.modexusexperience.com/post/the-power-of-maqui-berry-for-relaxation-and-wellness
• https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-015-0008-1
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10276697/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10969556/
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262645187_DelphinolR_standardized_maqui_berry_extract_reduces_postprandial_blood_glucose_increase_in_individuals_with_impaired_glucose_regulation_by_novel_mechanism_of_sodium_glucose_cotransporter_inhibition

Ready to try Maqui? Let me know your favorite way to use this purple superfood in the comments!