Aging rats had significant improvements in some balance and coordination tests after eating blueberry extract for 8 weeks.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Interesting study of the ability of improved natural anti-oxidants to very

significantly improve motor skills and short

term memory in a very short time.

My morning smoothie:

1/2 cup blueberries (75 g & 1,800 Orac units)

1/2 cup strawberries (72 g & 1,108 Orac units)

10 prunes (84 g & 4,846 Orac units)

1/2 banana (59 g & 124 ORAC units)

1 kiwi fruit (100 g & 604 Orac units)

1 tablespoon ground flax (Omega 3 LNA & fiber)

3 tablespoons whey protein powder

1/2 cup coconut milk or 1/2 cup soy milk with 1 tablespoon VCNO.

The ORAC rating at least 8,482.

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http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/qtr/q399/hn399.htm

" Aging rats had significant improvements in some balance and coordination tests

after eating blueberry extract for 8

weeks.

And it improved the animals' short-term memory, as did strawberry and spinach

extracts.

Because little else has reversed deficits in balance and coordination, the

findings hold hope for older people.

The 19-month-old animals in the study were the equivalent of 65- to 70-year-old

humans.

At 19 months, the length of time these rats are able to traverse a narrow rod

before losing balance normally drops to

only 5 seconds, down from the average 13 seconds for a young rat.

After getting blueberry extract, the old rats stayed on the rod for an average

11 seconds.

They ate the human equivalent of at least a half cup of blueberries daily.

Daily doses of strawberry and spinach extracts improved their short-term memory

about as well as the blueberry extract,

but none of the extracts improved long-term memory.

In a lab test of antioxidant potential known as the ORAC assay, blueberries

score highest.

Other high scorers include strawberries, spinach, prunes, raisins, kale,

blackberries and raspberries.

ORAC measures the ability of foods, blood plasma and just about any chemical mix

to subdue oxygen free radicals.

These oxygen radicals can damage cell membranes, DNA and other delicate

machinery and are blamed for many dysfunctions

and diseases of aging.

Researchers attribute the reversals largely to improvements in nerve cell

signaling in an area of the brain that

controls both motor and cognitive function.

USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts,Boston, MA

A. ph/Barbara Shukitt-Hale, (617) 556-3178/3118

joseph_ne@..., hale_ne@...

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Good health & long life,

Greg ,

http://optimalhealth.cia.com.au