Berries = Better Brains

Usually the stuff I love to eat isn’t healthy to eat, like ice cream. But I love berries, all kinds of berries, and this article by Beth Fontenot in the Atlantic, which I originally read on the Lumosity.com Facebook site, says that “Berries may provide protection against Alzheimer's as well as age-related memory loss and other types of cognitive decline.”

The article goes on to say that “Marshall G. Miller and Barbara Shukitt-Hale, researchers with the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, reviewed cellular, animal, and human studies on berry fruits and the aging brain and found strong evidence that blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and other berry fruits have beneficial effects.

They found that berry fruits protect the brain in several ways. They contain high amounts of antioxidants that protect cells from damage. Berry fruits also change the way that neurons in the brain communicate, and this may prevent inflammation in the brain that can damage neurons. Components in berries also improve cognition and motor control.”

For me that means on thing, “BERRY BINGEING!”

Here’s a link to the Atlantic article: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/04/the-benefits-of-berries-to-the-brain/255262/

And here’s a link to the abstract in the “Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry” - http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf2036033

PS - Yes this is a bad pun that probably only works in English. 

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Brains, Berries & Radiation

Generally speaking, berries are good for your brain and radiation is bad for your brain. If you've had radiation treatments, berries are even better for your brain.

That’s what I learned from a couple of articles about brains, berries and radiation.

The Huffington Post reports that “Berries could play an important role in clearing the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, according to a new study in mice.

The research, presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting, showed that the brains of rats that consumed berries for two months were better protected against radiation, which is meant to induce accelerated aging in the mice.”

HuffPost's Catherine Pearson reported also said that “Even though the findings have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal -- and thus should be considered preliminary -- a past study from Harvard researchers showed that eating berries regularly could help slow cognitive decline in older people.”

Since my cognitive acumen is perking along at something lower and slower than I’d like to begin with, the idea of keeping me from tumbling into an even the lower strata of cognitive ability is appealing.

Here’s the “HuffPost’s” link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/27/berries-brain-toxic-proteins-accumulation_n_3133953.html

Here’s a link to the press release from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/foas-meb041813.php

And Here’s some berry recipes from FOOD52.COM to help you get started: http://food52.com/blog/7707-boosting-brain-health-one-berry-at-a-time

Personally, I’m working my way through a box of yummy Michigan blueberries right now.

“The Five Foods That Do Wonders for Your Brain”

Here’s a link to an article by Nina Shadi that specifies five foods that grease the wheels of brains health: http://www.2baware.net/healthy-foods/five-foods-that-do-wonders-for-your-brain/

Ms. Shadi writes that “As you may know, food and calories fuel your body each day giving it the energy it needs to functions. But you also need fuel for brain as well, and there are certain foods that are better than others. Honestly, there are foods that are simply essential for brain health and strength.  Although there are many foods that support brain health, below we will discuss five foods that do wonders for your brain.”

Her five foods that “do wonders for your brain” includes:

1. Oily fish
2. Blueberries
3. Pumpkin seeds
4. Avocado
5. Chocolate

While I like all of these, the pumpkin seeds and avocado were a bit of a surprise for me.  Read her article to find out why she chose them.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_9979398_human-intelligence-and-brain-function-represented-by-gears-and-cogs-in-the-shape-of-a-head-represent.html'>lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo</a>