Blueberries can improve a person's memory because they contain chemical compounds known as flavonoids that can alter brain function, research suggests. Flavonoids are pigments that naturally occur in plants, and after they enter the body through diet, they have been found to make their way to the brain. Although it is not known exactly how flavonoids work in the brain, it is thought that they improve memory and increase cognitive function by stimulating the existing connections between brain cells and helping to generate new connections.
More about the effect of food on memory:
- Research has shown that 70-year-olds who eat a diet that is high in refined flour and sugars have four times the risk of memory impairments as those who do not.
- One study found that women who eat two servings of strawberries or blueberries each day can delay age-related memory decline by two-and-a-half years.
- People who follow a Mediterranean diet that is high in olive oils, fish, legumes and leafy vegetables might have better blood flow to the brain, research suggests.