Your Brain on Blueberries

Like blueberries? Here’s a reason to LOVE blueberries: Blueberries outsmart Alzheimer’s.

In a study, researchers fed rats a blueberry-rich diet for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, they concluded that blueberries “boost enzymes that help brain cells communicate with one another and make cell membranes more receptive to the signals.” It would appear that a blueberry-rich diet stimulates the brain. keeping the brain cells “on their toes.”

The author of the study, James Joseph, PhD says that after the ressearch, he now eats a cup or two of blueberries every day. As far as I know, research hasn’t been done yet to determine if juice or dried blueberries yield the same benefits. Hopefully they’ll find out that the results are the same - juice would make it somewhat easier to get the full dosage in.

Be that as it may, when a man or woman with a PhD following their name eats a cup or two of something each day, that’s all I need to know to start doing the same. Fortunately, blueberries are delicious and can easily be thrown into cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit salads, and even ice cream. One of my favorite ways to serve them is either in or on pancakes and waffles. If we all managed to get 1 cup in with breakfast each day and 1 cup in either at lunch (with a fruit salad, maybe) or bedtime (in a smoothie, cereal or oatmeal) - our brains would love us for it. In fact, pretty much our entire body would be grateful. (Click HERE to find out just how powerful these little guys are.)

Our grocery budget might raise an eybrow, but if we were to simply replace something unhealthy that we routinely buy with these colorful little mental spark plugs, it might never notice. I’m a pro at outwitting and outlasting my grocery budget. (If outwitting and outlasting means ignoring.)

Make each moment count double,
~Joi

P.S. What are you waiting for, go grab some blueberries?!