This is Your Brain On Blueberries

Do you ever feel like your brain was hard-wired by an under-qualified technician at Radio Shack? Or that a “brain fart” isn’t just a figure of speech, but rather an everyday occurrence for you somewhere between lunch and dinner? Or, maybe, just maybe, you should have actually worn a helmet that time you tried to jump the quarries on your Huffy?

Well, the solution may be as simple as…blueberries.

Besides their damn good looks and overwhelming popularity, there are a few MORE things that you should know about the blueberry and why it’s nature’s “smart food”.

Antioxidants Kick Ass!

So you’ve heard it all before, but do you really get it? Do you really understand why antioxidants are beneficial to your health? More specifically – your brain? Until now, it was assumed that every article written about the benefits of “antioxidants” were written for doctors and nutritionists.

Let’s break it down:

You have to breathe to live, right? As a consequence, when you breathe oxygen, free radicals are produced. These free radicals think they can come in and run the show by beating up (damaging) other cells within the body. This causes oxidative stress, which can damage protein, membranes and genes within your body.

This is where blueberries come to the rescue. They possess such powerful antioxidants that they can protect cells, specifically the ones in your brain, from inflammation and oxidative stress. This can actually put a halt and sometimes reverse a decline in cognitive and motor functions that are common with growing older.

So, quit looking for the “Fountain of Youth,” because a handful of blueberries, though not as majestically cool, can do the trick!

Don’t Even THINK About It

In today’s world, the less you have to think about something, the better. With iPhone apps making the bulk of your decisions, choosing a healthy food option shouldn’t give you a brain cramp.

Here are just a few reasons why blueberries have stood the test of time:

Fresh On the Go: Whether you’re late for work, or running errands, a handful of fresh blueberries are an effortless solution for a healthy mid-day snack.

When In Doubt: Does your yogurt need something extra? Are you missing some sweetness in that oatmeal? Blueberries can be added to virtually anything to up its nutritional value and taste without much thought.

Stock Up: Frozen blueberries are great to stock up on and leave in the freezer. They can be added to anything from your morning smoothie, to your afternoon lemonade.

Feeling brain-dead? Try this Brain-Boosting Breakfast Smoothie:

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To a blender, add:

1 c. of skim milk or soymilk

1 c. of light vanilla yogurt

½ c of frozen wild blueberries

2-3 ice cubes (to your liking)

Blend for 30 seconds!

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So, there you have it people. Blueberries are the easy solution to keeping your brain fresh, young and invincible.  We here at The Rugged strive not only to keep things simple and effortless…but useful!

How do YOU keep your brain alert? Sudoku? Scrabble? Stand on your head?

Let us know in the comments below! We want to hear from ya!