1 / 30

Blueberries… Health Benefits of these Superfruits

Blueberries… Health Benefits of these Superfruits. Amy Howell, Ph.D. Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research Rutgers University Chatsworth, NJ. Blueberries Considered one of the healthiest fruits Why? Wide array of diverse phytochemicals Broad portfolio of compelling research

clark
Download Presentation

Blueberries… Health Benefits of these Superfruits

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Blueberries… Health Benefits of these Superfruits Amy Howell, Ph.D. Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research Rutgers University Chatsworth, NJ

  2. Blueberries • Considered one of the healthiest fruits • Why? • Wide array of diverse phytochemicals • Broad portfolio of compelling research • Communication of the health messages

  3. Blueberries The Original Functional Food • Native to North America • Folklore uses • Wound healing • Blood poisoning • Stomach ailments • Diarrhea • Urinary disorders • Meat preservative What is responsible for these medicinal benefits?

  4. Lutein Zeaxanthin Lycopene Carotene Plant Pigments Coloration Health benefits – Antioxidant, other Carotenoids Anthocyanins >13 in blueberries

  5. Proanthocyanidins “Tannins” Plant defense compounds Predator feeding deterrents Complex molecules Astringent taste Multiple health benefits Antibacterial Antioxidant

  6. Small Fruit Total Flavonoid Content Flavonoids other dry matter mg equivalents/ g dry weight

  7. How can eating blueberries benefit our health?

  8. Damaging molecules called OXIDANTS (Free Radicals) Attack our bodies Like bullets in our blood streams Cause cell damage, disease, aging • Oxidants are made by: • Our own bodies, when cells grow and die • How else are they formed?

  9. How can we reduce oxidants and be healthier?

  10. Our bodies have natural defenses against OXIDANTS We produce ANTIOXIDANTS to stop damage As we age, our bodies produce fewer natural antioxidants We can get extra antioxidants from eating fruits and vegetables Blueberriesare very high in ANTIOXIDANTS

  11. Antioxidant Activity* Blueberry 22.3 Blackberry 20.4 Garlic 19.4 Strawberry 15.4 Consumer Confusion: Antioxidant level vs. antioxidant activity *Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Source: Ron Prior, U.S.D.A.

  12. Vascular Benefits • Heart Disease • Stroke • Eyesight Stickiness of blood platelets Inflexibility of arteries Inflammation Oxidation of LDL cholesterol

  13. Heart Health Kalt Ag Canada Fed pigs blueberries (1-4 cups human dosage equiv.) and tried to link changes in heart health to levels of plant compounds extracted from tissues of pigs

  14. Blueberry lowered total cholesterol 12% in both studies Worked better when diet included wide range of flavonoids In phytochemical poor diet, blueberries counteracted effects of added cholesterol, sugar and salt

  15. Protection Against Ischemic Stroke by Blueberries Reduced brain damage following release of blood clots during a stroke Sweeney et al., 2002. Nutritional Neuroscience.

  16. Macular Degeneration (study underway) Losso LSU Lose pigment, grow blood vessels Blurs “straight ahead” vision Age-related No effective treatments • Testing whether blueberries can inhibit blood vessel formation and retain pigment levels

  17. Motor and Cognitive Behavior Joseph USDA • Aging – decreased ability to respond to oxidative or inflammatory stressors • Blueberry shown to prevent this and/or restore it by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities • Blueberries decreased brain inflammation similar to the pain reliever “Aleve” • May effect genes that turn this on and off

  18. Blueberries and Brain Aging Blueberry Dietary Supplementation Reversed age-related mental decline - Memory loss - Motor behavioral deficits Joseph, J.A. et al. J. Neuroscience. 1999

  19. Motor AbilitiesRod Walk Test

  20. Improvements in Decision Speed(Human Clinical) (p=0.007) Martin, R. et al., 2002

  21. Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Tangles Brain Plaques As the brain ages, vulnerability to oxidative stress increases – Leads to behavioral deficits Functionality Blueberries enhanced communication between neurons

  22. Blueberry Diet Induces Neurogenesis Blueberry diet Control diet

  23. Antioxidant Effects Anti-inflammatory Effects Alterations in Neuronal Communication (cell signaling) Increased Neurogenesis Many compounds work together to achieve these Blueberries Promote Brain Health - Goes beyond Antioxidant Activity - Mechanisms Involved:

  24. Prevent binding Infection Prevention of Bacterial Adhesion Bacteria bind to cells Colonization Infection Possible role in prevention of urinary tract infections…like cranberry

  25. Health Benefits Due to the Interplay of a Mixture of Complex Molecules Eat the whole fruit!!

  26. How Much is Enough? 1 cup (daily) Fresh or frozen

  27. FRESH !!

  28. Any Questions?

More Related