A nutritional guru has hailed a certain ‘superfood’ packed with minerals and vitamins as a potential ally in the fight against dementia and inflammation. Dr Federica Amati, an expert in nutrition and associate of the Zoe health app, took to Instagram to praise the humble blueberry, a fruit that can be snapped up for just £1.80 per punnet at Tesco.
Dr Amati enthused about the ‘really good’ evidence supporting the inclusion of blueberries in your diet for their health-boosting properties but cautioned against viewing them as a panacea if one’s overall diet remains unchanged. She stated: “Blueberries are touted as some superfood that we should be consuming every day. I have to say that the evidence is really good, that blueberries are a great fruit to add to your daily diet. But it’s important to remember that we have to have a diversity of plants, so enjoy your blueberries, but make sure they’re not the only fruit that you’re eating.”
Detailing the advantages of this berry, she noted: “High in fibre – great for your gut health, high in helpful plant chemicals called polyphenols. Blueberries are especially high in anthocyanins which are protective for our nervous system and blueberries are a great source of vitamin K – important for heart health and healthy blood clotting.”
Dr Amati, who has previously spoken about the benefits of fruit for menopausal women, suggests that dietary changes in their 50s can help manage symptoms, reports Gloucestershire Live. “Women typically post-menopausal in their 50s, we know that colourful berries like blackberries and blueberries really help with managing symptoms,” she said.
Meanwhile, a diet known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) during middle age could reduce the likelihood of memory loss and signs of cognitive decline by around 17 per cent, according to research.
A study published last year in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia journal by researchers from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine suggested that this diet – high in plant-based foods and low in saturated animal fat, salt and sugar – may improve cognitive function later in life. The study involved 5,116 women.
The Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurogenerative Delay (MIND) diet combines elements of two healthy approaches, with blueberries playing a crucial role. Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert explained: “It emphasises lots of leafy green veg, such as spinach and kale, and darker berries including blackcurrants and blueberries because they are high in antioxidants that can prevent cell damage.”
