Blueberries Can Help Improve Your Memory
In recent years, much research has been conducted concerning if and how blueberries might be able to stop, reverse, or even improve memory loss, especially in age-related ailments such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
It is a fact there are compounds called flavonoids found in blueberries that will positively affect memory, cognitive function, learning, and decision-making. Consequently, consuming blueberries packed with flavonoids might slow the regression of mental health associated with aging.
Research has shown blueberry consumption can actually improve memory and slow age-related forgetfulness. The flavonoids found in blueberries affect nerve cells in a way that boosts communication of the nerve cells and regenerating brain cells. This has shown to benefit long-term memory in addition to short-term memory.
Steven Pratt, M.D., who wrote Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life, refers to blueberries as “Brainberries”. Through animal studies, he has concluded that consumption of blueberries has a very positive effect in protecting the brain from stress and age-related effects and diseases.
Through a series of tests using rats, results have shown that older rats subjected to a blueberry-rich diet experienced an increased mentality level to that of significantly younger rats.
For humans, it is recommended we consume 1-2 cups of blueberries every day to receive maximum benefits from the “superfood”. And even though fresh wild blueberries have the highest concentration of nutrients, sometimes they are difficult to come by. It is still extremely healthy and beneficial to eat farmed blueberries or other forms such as frozen or dried.
Life Extension Magazine
Scientific American
WebMD
Daily Mail
