Your Brain on Blueberries
Blueberries Can Boost Memory and Brainpower
Blueberries: Food for the Brain
Blueberries Lose Their Nutritional Pop When Served With Milk
Recent evidence shows that we may be undermining their worth – if we serve them with milk.
Blueberries are blue, sweet, and juicy and may help ward off those nagging memory lapses. Emerging research indicates compounds in blueberries known as flavonoids may improve memory, learning, and general cognitive function, including reasoning skills, decision-making, verbal comprehension, and numerical ability.
A report in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine detailed how milk interferes with the antioxidant and nutritional powers of blueberries. They suggest that when we eat blueberries, we should do so one hour before enjoying milk or two hours after.
Blueberries: Fruit for Thought!
Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. In fact, a serving contains about 14 mg or almost 25% of daily requirement for Vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for the formation of collagen and to maintain healthy gums and capillaries. It also aids in the absorption of iron and promotes a healthy immune system.
Blueberries contain substances that have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which are unstable molecules linked to the development of a number of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's. According to the USDA database of the antioxidant activity of selected foods, blueberries rank among the highest on a per serving basis.
New research indicates that the power of flavonoids that bolsters cognition (brain thinking) results mainly from interactions between flavonoids and proteins integral to brain-cell structure and functions.
Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that protect from the cellular damage caused by free radicals (the bad guys – oxidants), which are formed during metabolism, and are also from pollution, cigarette smoke and radiation. Flavonoids appear to help regulate blood flow and blood pressure.
Scientist has identified more than 6,000 different flavonoids. These chemicals are widely distributed in fruits and vegetable, cereal grains, cocoa, soy foods, tea, and wine.
Better Than Taking Supplements
Science has not determined which foods have the greatest potential for enhancing learning and memory. Eating flavonoid-rich foods is better than taking supplements. The processing destroys, or reduces the actual flavonoid content of supplements, and intact fruits (example: blueberries) and vegetables are likely to contain the most beneficial compounds to the brain.
Current USDA Dietary Guidelines
Current USDA dietary guidelines call for eating two cups of fruit and two cups and a half of vegetable ever day… It is hope if you do, you will remember where you put your glasses!
Related DNA Health Article:
http://hubpages.com/hub/DNA-Does-Not-Determine-Entire-Genetic-Fate
