Posts Tagged ‘blueberry benefits’
Hello, and welcome back to another edition of “Fun Facts on Nutrition!” Get ready to be amazed by some more fun and fascinating facts about the food we eat. Let’s get started..
1. Beetroot Juice Can Boost Athletic Performance
Beetroot juice, made from red beets, is a favorite among athletes for its ability to enhance performance.
It is rich in nitrates, which are natural compounds found in vegetables like spinach, leafy greens and beets.
Your body converts dietary nitrates into a compound which can improve blood flow, reduce oxygen use, and increase overall endurance. Drink up and feel the beet!
Reference: Jones, A. M., & Vanhatalo, A. (2017). The Physiology of Nitrate Supplementation in Human Exercise and Sport. Annual Review of Nutrition, 37, 447-473.
2. Blueberries Can Improve Memory
Blueberries are often referred to as brain berries due to their memory-boosting properties. They are packed with antioxidants which can improve memory and cognitive function.
Antioxidants are natural substances in fruits and vegetables that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage and lower the risk of many diseases. Antioxidants are also concentrated in dietary supplements like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
Snack on some blueberries soon for a good brain boost!
Reference: Krikorian, R., et al. (2010). Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(7), 3996-4000.
3. Pumpkin Seeds Are a Natural Mood Booster
Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps our bodies make serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that our body can’t function without.
Their job is to carry chemical signals from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next target cell. The next target cell can be another nerve cell, a muscle cell or a gland. Consuming pumpkin seeds boosts this action and can help improve our mood and promote a sense of well-being. Happy snacking!
Reference: Pumpkin seeds as nutraceutical and functional food ingredient for future: A review, Grain & Oil Science and Technology.
Fun and Health Go Hand-in-Hand
Isn’t nutrition fascinating? From athletic-boosting beetroots to mood-enhancing pumpkin seeds, these fun facts highlight the amazing world of food. We’ will regularly bring you more of these surprising and inspiring nutritional facts to help you on your journey to the healthiest life.
About Nutrition Breakthroughs
This natural health news is shared by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the original and effective calcium and magnesium based sleep aid Sleep Minerals II, and Joints and More, a natural supplement for joint relief, less aches and pains, stronger hair and nails, and more energy.
Blue and purple colored berries are delicious treats that provide many health benefits, particularly for the eyes. These fruits get their colorings from one of the plant kingdom’s most powerful substances – anthocyanins.
In one recent study, Japanese scientists in Tokyo studied the effects of black currant anthocyanins on work-induced computer eye problems and visual fatigue.
With a dose of 50 milligrams of black currant, there was a significant increased ability of the eyes to adjust to darkness, as well as reduced eye strain and improvement in symptoms of eye fatigue or vision problems. The study participants also described an added bonus of reduced lower back pain..
The bilberry fruit is a close cousin to the famous blueberry. During World War II, British fighter pilots reported improved nighttime vision after eating bilberry jam. One of the most important studies on bilberries was done by researchers at the Human Nutrition Research Center in Boston, MA.
The researchers used an enriched extract of bilberry in a test tube along with human retina cells. The cells were exposed to oxygen damage and bilberry was shown to have a profound antioxidant effect – protecting and reversing the damage.
Bilberry removed the stress in eye tissue, which is a strong indicator that it can safeguard the eyes against disorders of aging such as macular degeneration (blurred vision), cataracts (cloudy vision) and glaucoma (eye pressure causing optic nerve damage). The results were published in the Alternative Medicine Review journal.
This news is brought to you by Nutrition Breakthroughs, a provider of natural health articles and effective natural remedies since 2001. Nutrition Breakthroughs makes the effective calcium and magnesium based natural sleep aid Sleep Minerals II, and Joints and More, the natural solution for joint relief, allergies, stronger hair and nails, and more energy.
News on Natural Remedies, Good Sleep and Good Health 