Brain Health and Blueberries: June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

June 14, 2018

It Is More Important Than Ever to Assess Cognitive Health in Older Adults and Uncover Interventions That May Promote Healthy Aging

Jess Jones, Registered Dietician & Co-Founder of Food Heaven Made Easy

(Folsom, CA, Thursday, June 14, 2018) – June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month and what better way to shed light on this disease than to discuss ways nutrition may help improve brain health.

According to the CDC, the number of Americans over the age of 65 is projected to grow rapidly, reaching 88.5 million by 2050. It is more important than ever to assess cognitive health in older adults and uncover interventions that may promote healthy aging, including diet and exercise.

Investigators are currently pursuing five tracks to better understand the role that blueberries may play in promoting good health – cardiovascular health, insulin response, brain health, cancer research and the gut microbiome.

A recent study conducted at Tufts University and published in the European Journal of Nutrition, on healthy men and women between the ages of 60 and 75 randomly selected to receive either a diet supplemented daily with blueberries or a placebo for 90 days, found that the blueberry group showed significantly fewer errors compared to the placebo group in tests used to assess verbal memory and task switching.

We all know an apple a day, keeps the doctor away, but what about blueberries? According to the US Highbush Blueberry Council, blueberries are a good source of dietary fiber, with 3.6 grams per serving. Dietary fiber may contribute to feelings of satiety, or feeling “full,” and fiber aids in digestion and can help keep you “regular.” They contain just 80 calories per cup. Besides washing, they require zero preparation, which makes them an ideal snack or addition to any savory or sweet dish. Also, there is no such thing as blueberry season. When it’s winter in North America, it’s summer in South America where blueberries thrive on cool nights, hot days and clear skies. Chile, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay produce blueberries to supply the North American market in the fall and winter.

The simplest way to describe Wendy and Jess:  BFFs who love to eat, cook and nerd out about anything nutrition related (and in that order). In short, Food Heaven Made Easy started in 2011 as a creative outlet for two friends to spread the word about nutrition and healthy eating. What started out with just a couple of viewers has morphed an amazing YouTube community following of over 42,000 subscribers. Throughout the years, their site has evolved, but their basic philosophy has remained the same: healthy eating should be delicious, cost effective and relatively painless. They want to help people live their best lives possible, and they know that a healthy body and mind starts with a nutritious diet.

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