We've all heard for a long time about the health benefits of
diets full of fresh fruits and vegetables. As one who loves both, I
am happy to comply with this recommendation. Recently, I have been
hearing more and more about some very big benefits of a very small
fruit - blueberries.
Evidence shows that eating blueberries may reverse or slow
memory loss and be beneficial in the treatment of diseases like
Alzheimer's. Blueberries are both high in antioxidants and
effective at combating inflammation; both are believed to be
important contributors in the fight against Alzheimer's
disease.
Recent evidence suggests that adding blueberries and other flavonoid-rich foods to your diet may increase
activity in the part of the brain which controls learning and
memory. Flavonoids are the substance responsible for the colors of
fruits and vegetables with those wonderful hues of orange, yellow,
red and dark green. The USDA recommends
that we get at least four to five servings of vegetables or fruits
per day. In order to get the most benefit from their flavonoid
content, fruits and vegetables should be eaten raw or cooked as
little as possible.
Donald Niepagen (donald.niepagen@cmsschicago.org)
Chicago Senior Living
Assisted Living
in Chicago