Thursday, May 24, 2012

6 Fruits That Help Improve Your Brain Function

In addition to fresh when eaten, fruits also provide many health benefits for the body. The following 6 fruits may even help improve your brain function.

  1. Berry family
    Blueberries, cranberries, or strawberries is believed to be useful for brain health. According to a study by Dr. Elizabeth Devore and her team from Harvard Medical School, women who ate more blueberries and strawberries have better memory then those who ate less or no berry.

    Berry contains anthocyanidins, a type of antioxidants that are found in the fruits. This antioxidant is believed to able to prevent and repair the brain cells damage.
  2. Apples
    Apples could also benefit our brain health. Apple contains quercetin which is known help protect brain cells from free radical damage. If left ignored, this brain damage may lead to Alzheimer disease.

    Therefore, it is important to consume apple every day. In addition to improve brain function, apples are also rich in antioxidants that help protect against free radicals damage. According to a study by the institute of Agriculture and Agri-Food of Canada, red apples have the highest antioxidant content than other colors of apple.
  3. Orange
    Orange is rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight various diseases and illness. Orange is also contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants and help to fight free radicals that harm the brain.
  4. Avocados
    Avocados are indeed high in fat, but it is an monounsaturated fat, a good fat that may enhance the blood flow to the brain.
  5. Pomegranate
    Pomegranate contains high amount of antioxidant that can fight free radical attack. But keep in mind when choosing Pomegranate in juice form. Learn the composition and number of calories in one glass of Pomegranate juice. Generally, the juice has been mixed with sugar and other ingredients that make it more tasty.
  6. Tomato
    Tomato contains lycopene, a type of antioxidants that are beneficial in warding off free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage to the brain that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease.

    The researchers from the Institute for Health and Medical Research France say that one of the causes of brain aging is due to lack of lycopene and zeaxanthin in the body. These two types of antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes.