What are the chances you're thinking of all the health benefits when you dig into that perennial summer favourite--a slice of blueberry pie? While you may savour the delicious flavour, the little berries are much more than a taste treat. And, according to accumulating research, they're a food that you should enjoy all year long.
Blueberries are being singled out as an exceptionally stellar member of the produce family. "They're in a class by themselves," says Mary Ann Lila, associate dean for research of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, who has conducted research on assorted fruits and vegetables. She points to a growing body of evidence that links the compounds found in blueberries to protection against a variety of ills, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognitive decline.
Besides being packed with old standby nutrients like vitamin C and fibre, blueberries contain a wide assortment of "bioactive" components. It was not that long ago that, in scientific circles, antioxidants were a buzzword. Antioxidants fight ageing and damage caused by oxidation or exposure to oxygen.
Think of a peeled apple exposed to air and how it turns brown. In humans, oxidized cholesterol in the blood is more easily deposited in arteries. Blueberries, especially the wild variety, are known for their superior ratings on tests measuring antioxidant content.
But as of late, scientists have found that the antioxidant action of these various compounds is just the tip of the iceberg. Anti-inflammatory effects, cell-signalling and interactions between the compounds and genes that affect the likelihood of becoming obese or developing diabetes are only a few areas of research. For the past decade, James Joseph, a scientist at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, has been investigating blueberries and their impact on preserving brain functioning.
Considering the ageing population, it's a focus that may pay big dividends. In his earlier research, Dr. Joseph looked at the effects of blueberries on a number of different brain actions.
In one study, his research group found that rats fed an extract of blueberries, strawberries and spinach daily showed improvements in short-term memory. Only the blueberry extract, however, improved balance and coordination. In other research, age-related declines in motor skills in animals were also shown to be reversed with the feeding of blueberry extracts.
The doctor is now investigating an area involving cell-signalling in the brain tissue known as neurons. "Neurons in an ageing brain are like an old married couple. They don't talk to each other.
Neurons in older brains don't communicate or send out the right signals," he explains. Neurons can send out signals to produce damaging inflammatory compounds as well as transmit those with protective actions. Older brains seem to be better at triggering inflammation while falling short on producing protective signals.
What are the chances you're thinking of all the health benefits when you dig into that perennial summer favourite--a slice of blueberry pie? While you may savour the delicious flavour, the little berries are much more than a taste treat.
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