Blueberries are vibrant in color, delicious, AND good for your #brain!
Blueberries have high levels of antioxidants which protects your body from fresh radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to aging and diseases). The antioxidants in blueberries may especially benefit brain function. Berry fruits change the way neurons in the brain communicate and can prevent inflammation motion in the brain that contribute to neuron damage. Eating a bowl of blueberries can improve concentration and memory five hours later. Research shows that people who drank a blueberry smoothie in the morning did better at mental tasks in the afternoon than those who consumed a different drink. Daily consumption of blueberries have been found to slow memory impairments and motor coordination that are typically associated with aging. Studies have shown that healthy older adults who drank 30 ml of concentrated blueberry juice had a significant increase in brain activity, blood flow, and memory performance compared to a placebo group. When people start showing signs of brain slowing, consuming a single cup of berries per day resulted in increased activity in the brain and improved access to words. You can have your blueberries raw, baked, or in a juice or smoothie!