Monday, 25 February 2013

Today’s Amazing Fact: Improve your memory with Blueberries!


Blueberries have incredible nutrition and health benefits. From their rich color to their amazing qualities, blueberries can provide you with stronger and healthier cardiovascular health, brighter vision and healthy brain function. Plus, a trimmer waistline.
Improve Your Memory
Dementia is a condition in which the brain has a decrease in intellectual functioning, memory and problem-solving ability, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders. While you may associate cognitive decline with aging, it is not a normal part of the aging process. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center examined the effects of dietary supplementation with blueberries on adults that were experiencing early changes in their memory. The results of the study, published in the April 14, 2010, issue of "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," show that after 12 weeks of blueberry juice supplementation, subjects had improved learning ability and improved memory. Researchers conclude that even moderate blueberry supplementation in the diet can improve memory and brain function.
Reduce Diabetes Risk
One pathway for the development of diabetes is insulin resistance. The National Institutes of Health explains that if your body is resistant to insulin, or does not use insulin properly, excess sugar remains in the bloodstream. To compensate, the pancreas works harder to produce more insulin to move the sugar into cells. Eventually, the pancreas will tire and stop working altogether, which is when diabetes develops. The October 2010 "Journal of Nutrition" reports that dietary supplementation with blueberries improves insulin sensitivity, thereby lowering the risk of developing diabetes.
Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Making lifestyle and dietary changes are two of the best ways to lower blood pressure and keep it under control. A lifestyle change may include regular exercise, and a dietary change may include adding blueberries to your menu. Researchers at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada examined the effects of blueberries on angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, activity in the bodies of rats with high blood pressure. These enzymes contribute to hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which leads to high blood pressure. After two weeks of dietary blueberry supplementation, ACE activity decreased, but after six weeks it was stopped. Published in the January 2011 issue of "Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology," researchers recommend adding blueberries to the diet to prevent the onset of hypertension.
Nutritional Benefits
Blueberries are packed with nutritional benefits that add additional health benefits. According to information from the USDA National Nutrient Database, a 1 cup serving of fresh blueberries contains 3.6 g of fiber, which is a whopping 14 percent of the recommended daily intake set by the National Academies for women, and almost 10 percent of the RDI for men. Vitamins in blueberries include vitamins K, C, A, E and the B family. Minerals include potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, phosphorous, iron, calcium and magnesium. With almost no fat except a trace of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and only 84 calories in a 1 cup serving, blueberries make a healthy addition to any diet.
References
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