Blueberries may help you fight the natural aging of your brain
In recent USDA studies, blueberries have, in fact, been shown
to be number one in antioxidant activity, as compared to
40 other fruits and vegetables (Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition
Antioxidants, by definition, are "any of various
substances (as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and alpha-tocopherol)
that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen and peroxides
and that include many held to protect the living body from the
deleterious effects of free radicals." What this means
is that antioxidants, like those found in blueberries, fight
off toxic forms of oxygen.
Eating plenty of foods rich in antioxidants may play a major role
in your cognitive functions,
according to research. While it’s known that antioxidants
may protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and other age-related
disease, they may also help to keep our cognitive skills strong
as we age.
One of the primary factors in brain aging is thought to be oxidative
damage, with research suggesting that diets rich in natural antioxidants
may help to slow this damage.
In one study on brain aging, blueberries, which are very high
in antioxidants, appeared to be beneficial. And further, scientists
believe that blueberries contain chemicals that have not even yet
been identified - which that can protect the brain and even lessen
the consequences of brain damage.
At the 2004 International Conference on Longevity,
a group of researchers released details of a study that suggests
certain compounds found in blueberries (and some similar fruits,
including cranberries) have a significant impact in reducing the
degradation of brain function, as in Alzheimer's Disease and other
conditions.
Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction,
cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry,
spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation.
Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA, Bielinski D, Martin A,
McEwen JJ, Bickford PC.
United States Department of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research
Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111,
USA.
Ample research indicates that age-related neuronal-behavioral
decrements are the result of oxidative stress that may be ameliorated
by antioxidants. Our previous study had shown that rats given dietary
supplements of fruit and vegetable extracts with high antioxidant
activity for 8 months beginning at 6 months of age retarded age-related
declines in neuronal and cognitive function. The present study
showed that such supplements (strawberry, spinach, or blueberry
at 14.8, 9.1, or 18.6 gm of dried aqueous extract per kilogram
of diet, respectively) fed for 8 weeks to 19-month-old Fischer
344 rats were also effective in reversing age-related deficits
in several neuronal and behavioral parameters including: oxotremorine
enhancement of K(+)-evoked release of dopamine from striatal slices,
carbachol-stimulated GTPase activity, striatal Ca(45) buffering
in striatal synaptosomes, motor behavioral performance on the rod
walking and accelerod tasks, and Morris water maze performance.
These findings suggest that, in addition to their known beneficial
effects on cancer and heart disease, phytochemicals present in
antioxidant-rich foods may be beneficial in reversing the course
of neuronal and behavioral aging.
Read more: Reversals
of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive,
and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry ...
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