Positive health benefits abound in the multi-colored flavonoids found in all berries, especially blueberries and strawberries. Nutrition experts and a wealth of scientific reports show that berry consumption lowers levels of dangerous inflammation within the trillions of cells throughout our body, and can lower the risk of developing vascular disorders, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most feared and devastating illnesses that plague aging adults today. New research posits that eating berries regularly can help clear the protein tangles that exhibit frequently with many dementias as well as other chronic brain diseases. A research team from the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University provides evidence to demonstrate how diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries improve behavior and cognitive functions in a well established animal model known to parallel human metabolism.
Berries lower inflammation and oxidative stress to help preserve cognitive function
Releasing findings detailing their work to the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the study team fed rats a berry diet for two months and then looked at their brains for signs of brain dysfunction after irradiation, a model designed to accelerate the aging process. The animals were divided into two groups; one was evaluated after 36 hours of radiation and the other after 30 days. The scientists looked for neurochemical changes in the brain, particularly through a process called autophagy which can regulate the synthesis, degradation and recycling of cellular components.
Autophagy is also the primary means utilized to clear dangerous amyloid beta protein tangles from the brain before they deteriorate synaptic function resulting in cognitive decline and advancing dementia. Lead study author, Dr. Shibu Poulose concluded "After 30 days on the same berry diet, the rats experienced significant protection against radiation compared to control... we saw significant benefits to diets with both of the berries, and speculate it is due to the phytonutrients present."
Researchers determined that flavonoids from the berries promote autophagy, the brain's natural housekeeping mechanism, and thereby reduces the toxic accumulation of protein clumps most frequently seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease cases. Berries may provide a powerful preventive shield against brain function deterioration when included as part of a healthy diet, regular physical activity and brain exercises designed to stimulate the brain through new learning experiences.
