Everyday fruits and vegetables consumers love and crave can serve as weapons against mental degeneration. The 2009 Berry Health Symposium unveiled several studies consistently showing strawberry consumption is a simple way to improve cognitive function. One unpublished study presented by researchers from the Chicago Healthy Aging Project (CHAP) showed older adults who consume strawberries at least once per month have less cognitive decline. More specifically, women who consumed more than one serving of strawberries per month had a 16.2-percent slower rate of cognitive decline versus those who consumed less.
“Some research indicates consumption of antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits, and other sources of antioxidants, such as concentrates of these (i.e., green blends) or tonifying botanicals are so protective of brain function during aging that they can reduce Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 75 percent," said Herb Joiner-Bey, N.D., Barlean’s scientific advisor.
Researchers in Nashville, Tenn., found fruit and vegetable juices may play an important role in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease, particularly among those who are at high risk.1 Companies, such as Barlean’s, offer concentrated forms of fruits and veggies, as well as complexes of olive leaf extract that can boost brain function. Another important factor to feeding the brain is its fuel. “Lifestyle, nutrition and diet, and mental stimulation play absolute key roles in brain health," said Rod Burreson, CEO/Founder, Roex. “Starvation diets starve the brain. Too much sugars and processed carbohydrates cause ‘brain fog’ as the body deals with the insulin spikes."
Another vegetable that works against cognitive decline comes from the fungi family—mushrooms. “One of the new kids on the brain block is the Lion's Mane mushroom," said Mark J. Kaylor, vice president of education and research, Mushroom Wisdom Inc. “Research over the last couple of decades demonstrated Lion's Mane mushroom was able to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). What is significant about this is research using NGF with Alzheimer's patients showed it was able to slow or delay the onset of dementia. The problem is that NGF does not cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), so it is not a plausible material for broad application. Researchers began looking for substances that would cross the BBB and stimulate NGF. One such ingredient discovered that both crossed the BBB and effectively stimulated NGF is the traditional Qi and digestive tonic, Lion’s Mane mushroom. Further research into what constituents in Lions' Mane mushrooms were effective at stimulating this action led to the discovery of Amyloban, which has demonstrated effectiveness in reversing or delaying the build up of A beta plaques, as well as protecting healthy brain cells from damage cause by this plaque build up."
A Japanese review article found results from preliminary clinical trials showed the mushroom Hericium erinaceum was effective in patients with dementia in improving the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score or retarding disease progression.2 Another study found dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) from Hericium erinaceum can protect neuronal cells from endoplasmic reticulum, which is often the culprit of neurodegeneration, stress-induced cell death.3
References on next page.