Re: ORAC / calorie - blueberries etc.

[Guest guest]

> A couple of years ago blueberries were being touted as the

best " brain food "

> to prevent Alzheimer's and memory loss. Now I wonder if

strawberries and

> spinach are even better .

From what I've read: strawberries and spinach are not as good at this

as blueberries. Blueberries seem to be the best at combating brain

aging even though according to this chart they are not the tops in

antioxidents. See this popular article discussing the study done

with blueberry, strawberry and spinach extracts on rats:

http://www.thenaturalconnection.net/TNC%20Columns%

202000/Blueberries.htm

Of course they probably measured the amount they served to the rats

based on some standard measure other than calories. Still it seems

like blueberries are the best - blueberries are uniquely beneficial.

Of course no one lives on blueberries alone - or I hope not

anyway . Perhaps blueberries are the best because for some reason

they can lead to the birth of new brain cells. See this article:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/021125.htm

[Guest guest]

> A couple of years ago blueberries were being touted as the best "brain food"> to prevent Alzheimer's and memory loss. Now I wonder if strawberries and spinach are even better .

>From what I've read: strawberries and spinach are not as good at this as blueberries. Blueberries seem to be the best at combating brain aging even though according to this chart they are not the tops in antioxidents.

Or if you can't easily incorporate blueberries into your diet without overdoing your calorie budget you can take Bilberry Extract -- available from LEF:

http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00497.html

Bilberry is a close relative of Blueberry. I believe it was originally found to be useful -- as Bilberry Jam -- for fighter pilots doing night-fighting in the Battle of Britain in WW2. They noticed it improved their night vision, which was obviously of critical importance. I know Blueberry extract has improved balance and coordination in rats.

-- Mike O'Gara