Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

Here is your newest weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us! 

Blueberries and strawberries are high in flavonoids, anti-inflammatory compounds found in certain plant foods. A recent study published in the Annals of Neurology found that increased consumption of blueberries and strawberries was associated with reduced cognitive decline in elderly women. The study, which utilized data from the Nurse’s Health Study, involved over 16,000 women. The women with the highest intake of berries delayed cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years.

The researchers stated, “Substantial biologic evidence supports our finding that berry and flavonoid intake may be related to cognition. Berry-derived anthocyanidins are uniquely and specifically capable of both crossing the blood–brain barrier and localizing in brain regions involved in learning and memory…. We provide the first epidemiologic evidence that berries may slow progression of cognitive decline in elderly women.”

I often recommend berries as a low-sugar fruit that packs a health punch. This week, add more berries to your diet. Put a handful in your salad. Eat them as a snack. Or add berries to Greek yogurt for breakfast (add two tablespoons of whipped cream for a yummy desert).