Health Benefits Of Berries Include Lower Risks Of Cognitive Decline

Berries are considered among the healthiest natural foods on earth. Health benefits of berries include antioxidant and anti-aging properties, improving blood pressure and lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels in blood, more effective weight management and lowered risks of inflammation. A great deal of studies have show that consuming berries on a regular basis can be a great natural solution to decease risks of brain disorders and cognitive decline like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. The fact that berries are good for brain was proven by a group of scientists from Tufts University and the University of Maryland who tried giving extracts of blueberries and strawberries to lab rats and found it very effective against the effects of oxidative stress and other effects of aging.

Another study conducted by the experts at Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, has provided the scientific world with good proof of berries being effective against such aging related health conditions as dementia and related forms of cognitive decline. All berries rich in anti-oxidant can be added to our daily diet as a great support for improving our brain function, memory and learning ability. According to the findings of a recent study, eating berries rich in anti-oxidants just once a week is extremely effective against cognitive decline like Parkinson’s disease, especially in men. Those are the conclusions of a group of experts at Harvard University and University of East Anglia.

The study involved following the diet and other related habits of about 13,000 American men for over 10 years. By the end of the experiment, it turned out that about 800 men have developed Parkinson’s disease and other kinds of cognitive decline. After analyzing the diet and other factors, the scientists came to the conclusions that consuming the foods like berries, rich in natural flavonoids and anti-oxidants is linked to up to 40 per cent lower chances of suffering from brain disorders and memory loss. At that, the experts payed attention on berries as excellent natural source of those substances. It turned out that eating berries just once a week is enough to enjoy the stated benefits and provide us with a great protection against aging related diseases.

“This is the first study in humans to look at the associations between the range of flavonoids in the diet and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and our findings suggest that a subclass of flavonoids called anthocyanins may have neuroprotective effects,” Dr. Aedin Cassidy one of the study authors and Professor of the Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School at UEA. His colleague, Dr Xiang Gao of Harvard School of Public Health, said that a regular consumption of berries can lower the risks of Parkinson’s disease in all modern men up to 25 per cent. The findings of this interesting study were published earlier this spring in one of the issues of the journal Neurology, and those who are interested in learning more about this research can read additional information in this article.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

Comments are closed.