A recent randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study has found that average-aged adults struggling with obesity and insulin resistance who consumed strawberries for 12 weeks had a reduction in cognition activities like memory interference and depression.
The study focused on cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease which develops slowly over a period of years beginning in midlife, and anthocyanins, a nutritional compound found in strawberries. They then used the focus to investigate how dietary change may slow the progression of dementias and may increase mood.
During the trial, an experimental group which included 5 men and 25 women consumed either one packet of placebo or one cup of whole fresh strawberries, established as a standard serving protocol by the study sponsors; California Strawberry Commission.
The researchers formulated the placebo by mixing a powder prepared from whole strawberries through desiccation, freeze-drying, and milling, with liquid. None of the two groups were allowed to consumed other berries during the period of the study to prevent abnormalities in final results.
Can strawberries provide defense against denigrative cognition functions?
According to a co-author of the paper; Michelle Routhenstein, RD, CDE, CDN,
“Strawberries are rich in anthocyanins, which make them potentially good for cognitive and emotional health. Anthocyanins are what give strawberries their red pigment. Anthocyanins are a potent antioxidant that has anti-neuroinflammatory properties, which benefit brain and emotional health.”
Similarly, the other authors also believe that anthocyanins from strawberry have anti- inflammatory functions that reduces inflammation and other oxidative stress subsequently yielding defense against a cognitive anomaly.
Other research articles have also indicated the probable effects of strawberries on the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease’s characteristic tau tangles with the consumption of strawberries and their bioactive compound, pelargonidin.
You must however know that while endorsing strawberries as a healthy food, some experts are still skeptical of the study’s findings because they fear strawberry’s anti-inflammatory properties could not be a defense against memory loss.
However, expert neurologist like Dr. Clifford Segil claim anti-inflammatory drugs like Motrin, Advil, and Alleve are prescribed during the treatment of memory loss and so the hypothesis could be true.