Fruit for your Memory

Fresh fruit is good for you in many ways. Its high concentration of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients help build strong bodies, bones and teeth. Regular consumption of fruit is associated with reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cataracts and some disorders associated with aging. But fruit is believed to have other benefits as well, including increased memory function. The reason for this increased memory function may be due to presence of flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that fights disease-causing free radical molecules in the body. They might be one of your best defenses against cognitive decline.

In a recent study, people who had the highest flavonoid intake performed best throughout a 10-year period on tests of verbal fluency, logical reasoning and visual memory. Most types of common fruit contain flavonoids, but they can be found in some vegetables as well. Especially onions and broccoli. ”If you can afford the extra calories, flavonoids can also be ingested in 100% fruit juices, especially cranberry, and can also be found in red wine and dark chocolate. If you are looking for flavonids that are weight friendly opt for the lower calorie green tea choice,” says Julie Fortenberry, LDN, RD, Sports and Lifestyle Nutritionist. There are also flavonoid supplements on the market, but food sources for it are always better. At the moment there seems to be no universal agreement on a recommended daily allowance, but if you consume a fair amount of flavonoid-rich foods you can’t go wrong.

Interested in a podcast? Check out Maximum Wellness, Episode 46: Immune Update: How Your Defense Fights & Nutrients That Support It