New study says berries boost your brain
08/09/2016 / By Vicki Batts
It is no secret that berries are good for your health. They’re rich in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins. But, can they make you smarter too? Scientists from the USDA-ARS, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University have found strawberries and blueberries may boost brain health.
In the study, the researchers supplemented the diets of rats with one of the two fruits, and found that the rats exhibited increased hippocampal neurogenesis and the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (ILGF-1), both of which are associated with learning and memory function.
The berries proved to have had varying results on the test subjects. For example, rats on the blueberry diet excelled at the psychomotor coordination skills tests, while the strawberry-fed rats excelled at general coordination and balance tests. Both rat groups saw improvements in fine coordination and resistance to fatigue.
It makes sense that different berries would have different benefits, given their different nutritional makeup and varying arrays of antioxidant compounds. Despite the experiment’s varying results, however, one thing’s for sure — these berries are not only delicious, they’re healthy, too!
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Tagged Under: berries, brain health, healthy eating
