by Stuart Leopold

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 20, 2011

When it comes to answering the call for the consummate fruit, blueberries win out hands down. The multiple benefits of blueberries have been documented in more studies than one can imagine.

Are you having difficulty remembering where you left your house keys? How about remembering the names of those pesky small people running around your house? I sincerely hope it's not that bad. Try adding blueberries to your diet. Studies have shown that blueberries are a natural way to keep your mind facile.

Tufts neuroscientist James Joseph was quoted in Newsweek (6/17/02) as saying: "I call the blueberry the brain berry." He attributes the brain-benefits of blueberries to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. In a recent Wall Street Journal article (4/29/03) it was stated that blueberries had the strongest impact on reversing memory loss.

Now, I am not advocating that you eat only blueberries. Like anything else, this amazing fruit is not a stand alone fruit. As a matter of fact, the nations largest public-private nutrition education initiative the 5 A Day The Color Way For Better Health Program advocates increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to 5 a day for 75% of Americans by 2010. Blueberries are represented at the top of the list for the Blue/Purple category.

The program through their research claims that "blues & purples" lower the risk of some cancers and promotes urinary tract health. Memory function and healthy aging is also considered to be an additional benefit. It is believed that the phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and phenolics are responsible for these benefits.

A short list of blueberry benefits are:

Improved vision
More antioxidants for disease protection
Enhanced memory
Clears arteries
Promotes weight control
Helps to strengthen blood vessels

Antioxidants are believed to help protect the body against free radicals which accelerate the aging process. Free radicals also promote the disease process in our bodies. Fruits such as blueberries and some vegetables contain the antioxidants such as vitamin C and E. Blueberries, for example, contain 14 mg of Vitamin C and 0.8mg of Vitamin E per 1 cup of blueberries. By using a test called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), researchers have proved that one serving of fresh blueberries provides more antioxidant activity than many other fresh fruits and vegetables.

As a baby boomer, I have been consumed in trying to reverse my own personal aging process. My contemporaries are also fighting

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