If you grew up in New England (or in America’s upper Midwest) as I did, blueberries might seem rather ordinary to you. But there’s no fruit more extraordinary than blueberries. In fact, they’re one of the very few foods I would ever consider worthy of the “superfood” label.
As I told you last month, in my Daily Dispatch about planting your own blueberry bushes, a cup of this tiny fruit provides nearly four grams of fiber, almost 20% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and over one-third of your vitamin K requirement. Blueberries also protect blood vessels and help promote healthy blood pressure.
But that’s only a small sampling of the benefits blueberries have to offer. In fact, perhaps we should also start calling them “brain berries,” considering all the incredible research pouring out of laboratories in recent years.
Off-the-charts antioxidant potency
Free radicals are the biggest, single source of cellular aging. But the right antioxidants seek them out and destroy them. And blueberries’ antioxidant potency is literally off the charts.
In fact, when the USDA conducted the most thorough antioxidant mapping in history, blueberries stood out so far ahead of the other items, it looked like they’d made a mistake.
For this research, USDA scientists pitted blueberries against 23 other fruits, 23 vegetables, 16 different herbs and spices, 10 different nuts, and four dried fruits. Blueberries towered over them all in total antioxidant capacity per serving.
Of course this superior antioxidant activity doesn’t just help combat cellular aging…it also helps fight brain aging as well.
In one study, just four months of blueberry supplementation improved the memory of middle-aged mice. And other research shows that the anthocyanins in blueberries can help support the integrity of brain neurons.
The researchers behind these studies witnessed so much overwhelming evidence, they have begun to change their entire outlook on aging…
Cellular aging isn’t a foregone conclusion anymore
According to Dr. Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, “People are told once you’re old — there’s nothing you can do…That might not be true.”
Shukitt-Hale and the team from Tufts recently conducted memory tests on mice that were nearly two-years-old — the equivalent of a 70-year-old human.
One group of mice ate the human equivalent of a half cup of blueberries a day for two months. Compared to the control groups, the blueberry group improved their memory and learning tests. They also improved their balance, coordination, and navigational skills. This finding was significant because, up until this study, scientists weren’t sure these natural signs of aging could be reversed.
For comparison, the Tufts researchers gave control groups of mice other high-potency antioxidant extracts. But the blueberry mice outperformed every other group in neuromotor function, balance, steadiness, and concentration.
This study stood out to me for another reason…
Based research and review of the studies, the ability to walk quickly and well-balanced in older age is the single best predictor of health and longevity.
Plus, in other human studies, blueberries have also been shown to improve verbal learning and memory in the elderly after just 12 weeks.
And that’s not all…
Emerging experimental science suggests blueberries help secure a long and healthy life. In fact, in one recent study, researchers discovered fruit flies live 10 percent longer and experience improved levels of physical activity on a diet that includes blueberry extract. And roundworms lived 28 percent longer — and experienced far greater tolerance of stress in their environment.
Of course, fruit flies and roundworms are not equivalent to humans. But these are well-known, time-tested, standard scientific models.
As I mentioned earlier, you can grow and enjoy blueberries picked straight from your backyard. But for even more benefits, look for a supplement that combines blueberry extract with other natural ingredients. My CoreForce BioBlend, for instance, includes blueberry extract, rose hips, baobab, aspal, and lo han — a truly remarkable, unique combination you won’t find anywhere else.
And as the proverbial “icing on the cake,” CoreForce is delicious. You can add this powdered mix to juice, milk, or just plain water. Whatever you choose, the end result is the perfect combination of sweet and refreshing. If you haven’t tried CoreForce, I urge you to learn more about it by clicking here. It’s one of the easiest and most effective steps you can take to support brain health and longevity on every front.
SOURCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24004888
http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672%2814%2901633-5/abstract
“Blueberry treatment decreased D-galactose-induced oxidative stress and brain damage in rats.” Metab Brain Dis. 2015 Jun;30(3):793-802.
“Blueberry supplementation improves memory in middle-aged mice fed a high-fat diet.” J Agric Food Chem. 2014 May 7;62(18):3972-8.
“Neuroprotective effects of anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-rich extracts in cellular models of Parkinson׳s disease.” Brain Res. 2014 Mar 25;1555:60-77.
“Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and blueberry extracts supplementation improves spatial memory and regulates hippocampal ERK expression in senescence-accelerated mice.” Biomed Environ Sci. 2014 Mar;27(3):186-96.
Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. J Neurosci. 1999 Sep 15;19(18):8114-21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2850944/