Fight the Effects of Aging with Wild Blueberries.

Most everyone loves blueberries. We top our morning cereal with them. Some of us blend them in our yogurt or ice cream. What ever your favorite use for blueberries is, probably the last thing you thought you were doing other than adding flavor to these foods was extending your lifespan and slow age-related declines.

According to results of new research conducted by the National Institutes of Aging (NIA), key antioxidant compounds in Wild Blueberries ( a more hearty and antioxidant-rich variety of blueberry), called polyphenols, were found to have beneficial effects in age-related declines and stress resistance. The study was conducted on microscopic-sized worms called nematodes, which are commonly used to study aging and longevity. Scientists believe that certain aspects of aging in nematodes are very similar to that of mammals, including humans.

Researchers have known for some time that Wild Blueberries’ antioxidant compounds help reduce stress signals, but this new study found these compounds have other mechanisms that go beyond their antioxidant capabilities. There is now evidence that Wild Blueberries may influence cell signaling (ability to transmit messages to other cells) and gene expression (the process by which a gene's DNA sequence is converted into the structures and functions of a cell). Stress and inflammation of cells are related to numerous age-related diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Reducing cellular stress may help keep cells healthy and functioning in a normal way, so they can do their job properly.

Susan Davis, MS, RD, Nutrition Advisor to the Wild Blueberry Association, said, “Investigation into the preventative effects of food compounds such as those contained in blueberries is increasing.”  Davis further added, “If a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables can prevent or forestall the development of oxidative stress and inflammation, it is possible that this would result in a decrease in the incidence of or delay in the onset for many age-related diseases.” In a study conducted by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston, researchers reported that, “a diet of blueberries may improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging and age-related diseases.(1)

What is so extraordinary about Wild Blueberries compared to other antioxidant-rich fruits? According to the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC – the scale by which antioxidant capacity of foods are measured), Wild Blueberries rank highest in antioxidant capacity per serving compared with 20 other fruits. The study showed that a one-cup serving of Wild Blueberries had a higher concentration of antioxidants than a serving of cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, and cultivated blueberries.(2)

There are ongoing studies that show compounds in Wild Blueberries may also benefit the heart, vision, urinary tract health, and cell health. And, according to research conducted at the NIA, preliminary results on animals show that Wild Blueberries may be as effective as pharmaceuticals in improving longevity and defending against cellular stress. So the solution to living healthier, longer, may very well reside within these unassuming little dark blue berries. In fact, Dr. Ronald Prior, a researcher at Tufts University said, “Because of the good news to date, researchers will go on to study the health benefits of blueberries long into the future since there is much left to know and confirm. “In the meantime,” admitted Dr. Prior, “I'm eating blueberries every day.”

References:
1. Nutritional Neuroscience, 6:153-162, 2003
2. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52:4026-4037, 2004