Health: adding a handful of blueberries to your diet would bring different benefits

According to researchers from King’s College London and the University of Reading, UK, a handful of blueberries would bring many benefits.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Scientists conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 61 healthy men and women between the ages of 65 and 80. These participants, split into two groups, drank either a drink made from 26 grams of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder – equivalent to about 178 grams of whole berries – or a placebo.

They were followed in parallel for three months, which allowed the researchers to note several differences between the two groups.

Better results for cognition and blood pressure

Scientists have thus observed in volunteers who drank blueberry juice a drop in blood pressure, a faster reaction time and an improvement in memory and cerebral cognition.

“This study is the first of its kind and the results suggest that daily consumption of wild blueberries may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure and improving blood vessel function.” explains Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College.

The key role of polyphenols

A finding supported by Professor Claire Williams, chair of the department of neuroscience at the University of Reading who adds: “It is clear from this study that the consumption of wild blueberries is beneficial for cognitive function, as well as vascular health. The group that had the wild blueberry powder showed signs of better memory and greater mental flexibility when performing cognitive tasks. This aligns with what we already know about the health benefits of anthocyanin-rich foods, and it highlights the important role of polyphenols in healthy aging.”