The Blueberry & Brain Performance Connection

Blueberries are widely known for their healing properties…  

And specifically in recent years, they’ve developed a reputation for improving brain health at any age. The reason is because blueberries have high antioxidant contents. Antioxidants prevent a process called, “oxidation” which has been shown to cause cell damage, mental decline, and accelerated aging. But with the help of blueberries, you can reduce cell oxidation, improve brain health, increase focus and preserve those precious memories of yours — all while keeping your body younger, too.

Of all traditional berries, blueberries contain the richest antioxidant content, mostly coming from flavonoid compounds that boost antioxidant health, calm inflammation and promote longevity. In other words, blueberries are a superfruit you don’t want to miss out on.

In this article, I’m going to focus primarily on the brain benefits of eating blueberries. Plus, how to get all the essential nutrients from blueberries in 8-seconds a day, without having to actually eat them.

Lowers Dementia Risk

Now that the “baby boomer” generation is getting older, a large part of the population in the United States is 65 years or older. And with age, comes an increased risk of mental illness, like dementia, if you aren’t paying special attention to your brain health. 

Studies show degenerative brain illnesses can be prevented with many superfoods like blueberries. For example, in one 2010 study from Tufts University, researchers studied the effect of a daily blueberry juice supplement in older adults with early signs of dementia. After 12 weeks of taking the blueberry juice supplement, the subjects noticed improved learning capabilities and memory recall. They also saw a reduction in symptoms of depression and lower blood glucose levels. 

The doctors concluded these benefits are the result of the high antioxidant profile of blueberries.

Reduces Effects Of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and is responsible for 60% to 80% of dementia cases. This disease gets worse with time and causes memory loss, decreased thought processing, and cognitive impairment to the point the patient can’t do simple daily activities. In an animal study, a blueberry rich diet was found to reduce learning impairment and can protect against neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment due to oxidative stress.

In 2016, researchers from the University of Cincinnati studied 47 adults with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and gave them freeze-dried blueberry powder or a placebo powder once a day for 16 weeks. All the subjects in the blueberry group showed an improvement in cognitive performance, brain function, memory, and access to words and concepts.  Also, the researchers did functional magnetic resonance imaging on all the adults and the scans showed that the ones who supplemented with the blueberry powder had an increase in brain activity.

Prevents Age-Related Memory Loss And Other Changes

A 2012 study from Tufts University found additional benefits of eating blueberries that weren’t strictly related to their antioxidant properties. 

They discovered that blueberries enhance neuroplasticity, neurotransmission, and calcium buffering — all of which help to prevent age-related memory loss. Also, the flavonoids in the berries have anti-inflammatory properties which boost blood circulation and increase oxygenation of the brain. 

Boosts Brain Cells

The hippocampus section of the brain is the part responsible for spatial memory and navigation, and it also plays an important role in consolidating short-term and long-term memory. This part of the brain is also the first to suffer in cases of age-related dementia. 

A 2002 animal study from Kent State University demonstrated how diets with blueberry supplementation may improve hippocampal plasticity and cognitive behavior. The hippocampal plasticity allows the constant production of new cells; and therefore, the blueberries boost the generation of young and healthy brain cells to keep your mind sharp as ever at any age.  

Boosts Concentration, Memory

The flavonoids in blueberries have many properties that improve brain health and therefore boost concentration. 

For example, a 2009 study showed how brain concentration improves five hours after eating blueberries. The subjects of the study were people between the ages of 18 to 30, and some were given a smoothie containing blueberries, and the others were given a smoothie without the fruit. 

All the people who drank the smoothie with blueberries had a brain power increase of 15 to 20%. The researchers believe the reason is because of an increase in oxygen and the antioxidants benefits from the blueberries. 

As a side note, this goes to show that whether you’re a young guy who wants to improve his performance in the classroom or at the office, or you’re an older gentleman who’s noticed his mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be, blueberries will be a great “go to” to get that extra mental boost you’re looking for.

Boosts Mental Health

Blueberries really are a superfruit, and many studies have made a connection between this fruit and a treatment for PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 6.8% of Americans at some point in their lives. But blueberries can help with the effects. 

In one study from Louisiana State University, researchers investigated  PTSD and its symptoms using rats.

To be able to compare rats suffering from PTSD to humans, researchers identified a gene (SKA2) that was found to be in low levels in people who committed suicide. They then developed a process that induces PTSD like responses in rats until they achieved lower levels of this gene than non-tested rats. Later they fed the rats the equivalent of two cups of blueberries for a human, and saw an increase in SKA2 levels.

Because of this, the evidence strongly suggests that blueberries can help to reduce the biochemical and genetic drivers behind depression and suicidal tendencies.   

Conclusion

Overall, blueberries are a superfood that will boost your body’s health, especially your brain. 

But if you don’t want to be constantly stuffing your face with blueberries, or making frequent trips to the store to pick them up, I have a solution so you can get all the blueberry-brain benefits I mentioned above without having to actually eat blueberries. 

It’s called Man Brain. 

Man Brain is my completely natural brain-boosting supplement that contains an ingredient called Blueberry Anthocyanins. This ingredient will give you the cognitive benefits of eating clinically studied amounts of blueberries.

Plus, Man Brain contains 5 other ingredients that prevent brain aging, boost focus, improve memory and keep you driven from morning to night. 

So if you want, run to the store and grab some blueberries. 

But if you want to save some time and money, check out Man Brain by clicking here. 

You’ll be glad you did.