Updated Trends: A new study has stated that regular consumption of berries – like blueberries or strawberries – can help in the brain functioning well as you age. The study observed that women with the highest intake of berries appeared to delay cognitive ageing by up to 2.5 years.
Cognition refers to the activities of the brain like remembering, thinking and reasoning. Elizabeth Devore, the lead author of the study said, “Given that we know that fruits and vegetables are good for our health in general, our findings add to the idea that we should be consuming more, especially berries, as a way to help maintain memory in older ages”.
Devore explained that berries are a simple dietary intervention which can be helpful for the brain. Fruits like berries and other vegetables are rich in substances which is known as flavonoids which help in protecting the body’s cells from damage and reduce inflammation.
Nancy Copperman, a nutritionist, said that flavonoids are anti-oxidants which are found in berries, apples, tea, red wine, citrus fruits and onions. The substance helps in reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart diseases, cancers and diabetes. Berries contain a particular flavonoid known as the anthocyanidin.
