Forgetful? Grab a Handful of These Tasty Fruits

Berry season is here and these tasty little treats could help boost your memory!

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries – berry season is here and these tasty little treats could help boost your memory!

That’s right, as part of the famous Nurses Health Study, researchers surveyed 16 thousand women about their cognitive health and diet. Those with the highest intake of blueberries and/or strawberries showed about one and half to two and half years of delays in cognitive aging; i.e. thinking, remembering, and reasoning. You read that right, berries might help slow cognitive decline as we get older, and we can only speculate how berries would affect a younger brain – but they are sure to be a healthy boost.

How many berries do we need to eat to prevent cognitive decline? The women who ate the most berries were eating a half-cup of blueberries or two half-cup servings of strawberries a week. Now that’s doable 

One thing to remember, the women who ate the most berries also tended to be more physically active compared with those who ate the least. Other lifestyle factors were also taken into account.

What’s so great about berries? Berries contain flavonoids, which are plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to research, berries contain the flavonoid anthocyanidin which can cross the blood into the brain's hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory. Flavonoids are also found in other food and drinks such as citrus fruits, tea, red wine, and onions – all of which were all taken into account in the study.

SupermarketGuru suggests shopping for a rainbow of produce, as the different colors and plant compounds are going to have various health boosting effects. Head to the freezer aisles to compare prices and even shop for desired fruits and veggies that may not be in season. Luckily it’s summer time and berries are abundant!