Enhance your Learning Ability with Blueberries

My high school Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry teacher always joked about eating blueberries before his test days, but I never really understood why. Turns out, he was right.

It wasn't until my time at Vanderbilt studying Neuroscience that I learned about the amazing benefits to memory capacity and function that blueberries enhanced.

In fact, grabbing a handful of blueberries has been demonstrated to help fight dementia.

In addition, blueberries fight off the harmful effects of free radicals, keep blood vessels clear of plaque, and may help lower blood pressure. Because of the interconnectedness of the human body, these benefits enhance brain function.

As early as 1999, studies found that giving blueberries to older rats helped them to navigate mazes more efficiently. Since then, over 200 studies have been conducted demonstrating the efficacy of blueberries for slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, boosting memory, and lowering inflammation.

One research study showed that women with higher intake of blueberries delayed cognitive aging by 2.5 years. Through MRI and fMRI imaging, researchers have been able to determine differences in brain morphology and have even determined that antioxidants in these berries can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Since learning about these superfoods, blueberries became my go-to pre-exam snack.

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