New Scientific Study: A Daily Dose of Wild Blueberries Could Improve Cognitive and Cardiovascular Health

Looking for an easy way to boost your cognitive and cardiovascular health?Look no further than the humble blueberries! According to a new study from King's College London's Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, consuming just a handful of wild blueberries daily can offer a range of health benefits.

The study found that anthocyanins in blueberries are responsible for improving vascular and cerebral blood flow, which are two key factors in maintaining healthy cognitive functions. Anthocyanins are polyphenols, a group of plant compounds increasingly linked to numerous health benefits.

Participants who drank a beverage made from 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder daily for 12 weeks experienced a reduction in systolic blood pressure by 3.59 mmHG and an improvement in vascular function compared to those who consumed a placebo powder.Additionally, blueberry consumers experienced improved executive functions, enhanced short-term memory, and faster reaction times.

61 healthy men and women aged 65-80 participated in the study.Half of them drank a beverage containing 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder every day, while the other half consumed a placebo matching in taste, appearance, macronutrient content, fiber, and vitamin C.

Scientists believe that the beneficial effects of blueberries are due to their blue pigments called anthocyanins.Each daily dose of the forest blueberry powder in the study contained 302 milligrams of anthocyanins, while the placebo drink contained none.

The beneficial effects of polyphenols are not yet fully understood, but one theory suggests that polyphenol metabolites may act as signaling molecules, influencing several cellular pathways, modulating the bioavailability of nitric oxide and various enzymes.

If you want to boost your cognitive and cardiovascular health, consider adding a cup of wild blueberries to your daily diet.And since the benefits of blueberries have been supported by a new study, there's no better time to start! gfBar contains 50% wild blueberries, enhancing the benefits highlighted by this study.In one bar, you'll find the equivalent of 133.5 g of fresh wild blueberries.

Anthocyanins are polyphenols, a family of plant compounds increasingly linked to health benefits.

Even though eating a handful of wild blueberries every day isn't always easy, you can count on gfBar to contain enough of this superfood to benefit cognitive and cardiovascular health.

Source: https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)46300-9/fulltext