Blueberries & Your Brain

Consuming blueberries as a regular part of your diet may have a very positive impact on the health of your brain. Blueberries are a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants that protect the nervous system and possibly enhance memory and cognitive in humans. Eat fresh blueberries often to support your mental and emotional well-being, and consult with a nutritionist and a doctor before purchasing blueberry supplements. .

Nutrition

According to Susanna Lyle, author of "Eat Smart, Stay Well," blueberries are a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, the heart and the immune system. Eating blueberries will provide you with vitamins C, A and K, dietary fiber and antioxidant flavonoids including anthocyanins, proanthocyanins, quercetin and ellagic acid. These antioxidants protect cells in the body from free radical damage, which may be an important factor in dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins found in blueberries cross the blood-brain barrier and offer direct protection to tissues in the central nervous system.

Memory

In a clinical trial reported in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" in 2010, researchers from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center investigated the effects of blueberry supplementation in older adults. Over 12 weeks, subjects ingested wild blueberry juice, and they were later tested for changes in memory and cognition. Blueberries significantly improved the memory of adults in the early stages of age-related memory changes and also improved blood glucose levels and depression. Although this trial was small, it is the first to study the neuroprotective effects of blueberries in humans and shows promising results.

Learning

In a study published in "Behavioural Brain Research" in 2009, researchers from the University of Patras in Greece gave blueberries to mice to test the effects of the fruit on cognitive function. Blueberries significantly improved learning and memory in mice and had a direct effect on antioxidant levels within the brain itself. Mice given blueberries had higher vitamin C and glutathione levels, which protects the central nervous system from free radical damage.

Motor Skills

In a study published in "The Journal of Neuroscience" in 1999, researchers from Tufts University investigated the effects of a diet high in blueberries, strawberries and spinach on rats. Blueberries had a special effect on the cognitive and motor skills of the rats, improving coordination and balance. In addition, blueberries improved the rat's short-term memory and learning. Eating blueberries may have a greater impact on the health of your brain when compared with other antioxidant-rich foods found in the diet.

Neurodegenerative Illness

Blueberries may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative illness in humans when eaten regularly. According to a study published in "Nutritional Neuroscience" in 2003, researchers from Tufts University tested the ability of blueberries to protect against age-related mental decline. Blueberries had a protective effect on the brains of mice, helping to prevent the cognitive decline. A diet high in blueberries also enhanced neurons in the brain involved with memory, demonstrating the ability of blueberries to promote memory as well as cognition. Eating blueberries regularly may provide important antioxidants and phytochemicals to your diet that will support your brain function and help to prevent age-related decline of the nervous system.