Blueberry Brain Power

Are you part of the baby boomer generation? Then you and about 77 million other baby boomers are getting closer to retirement age and thinking more and more about adopting a healthier lifestyle to ensure vital, healthy and active golden years.

One of the most common fears of the aging boomer population is a loss of mental clarity, sharpness and memory. With our age span increasing we need to be ever vigilante to feed our brains nutrients to keep it sharp and alert for the long term.

Blueberries are an excellent food choice for feeding the brain. Research funded by the Agricultural Research Service found that rats fed the equivalent of 1 cup of blueberries per day for two months could actually reversed short term memory loss. Pretty impressive when you consider that one cup isn't all that much and that blueberries are delicious!

"The researchers found an increased birth rate of brain cells in the hippocampus — a brain region responsible for memory — in aged rats fed blueberry supplementation equal to one cup daily in humans for two months, when compared to non-supplemented rats.

The hippocampus is one of the few areas in the brain that continuously replaces neurons through a process called neurogenesis, a term that encompasses proliferation, survival and differentiation of precursor cells." Rosalie Marion Bliss, United States Department of Agriculture

With over 3 million Alzheimer's patients in 2004 and the possibility of an additional 3 million diagnosed in 2005 it is imperative that we take the necessary action today to ensure our good health for tomorrow.

Making simple changes to your lifestyle can make a huge impact on your physical and mental health. Researchers say that by making at least one of the following lifestyle choices you can decrease the risk of Alzheimer's significantly.

Make better food choices and eating fish
Keep physically active
Keep mentally active by playing cards or the piano
Reduce stress

"In one study, researchers evenly split 20 participants into two groups. One set of individuals was put on a special program, which included mental and physical exercise, stress reduction and smart food choices. The other group served as a control group and did not follow the plan.

A typical day for group one participants began with stretching, a healthy breakfast, walking and practicing memory skills.

By the end of two weeks, 75 percent of participants on the program showed at least a 20 percent improvement on memory tests. As an added bonus, the program seemed to lower their blood pressures, which is linked to brain health.

Researchers claim that if Americans make any one of the lifestyle changes, the projection of Alzheimer's cases could drop by 1 million in five years, and possibly by 2.5 million in 20 years." Yahoo News, September 2004

Adding a cupful of blueberries to your daily intake of healthy food seems a pretty straightforward way to improve your brain power and with their impressive array of phytonutrients and anti-oxidants can also benefit blood vessels by strengthening the walls, preventing heart disease and protecting against certain cancers.

Seems to me that consuming more blueberries is a win-win scenario. Check out this recipe and let me know what you think!

Megan's Favourite Blueberry Tofu Pudding

1 package tofu
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Blend everything together in blender until smooth and creamy. Pour into separate dishes or in a baked pie shell. Let sit overnight if possible to allow flavours to blend.

SBI!