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The occurrence of dementia is continuing to rise and so scientists are looking for a way to prevent and treat it. One of the most natural ways of preventing dementia is blueberries according to results from a new study. This Most recent study confirms what was discovered in a study conducted in 2008, that easting Blueberries improves memory and world list recall.

The study involved 9 elderly people whose average age was 76, all recruited by study leader Dr Krikorian. They were administered a daily dose of wild Blueberry juice, the amount depending on their body weight. The average was about half a litre per day. The control group were a demographically matched and were given a placebo to drink.

Researcher Donal O’Mathuna said about the value of Blueberries that, “Because blueberries are high in antioxidants, which have beneficial health effects, they are being examined in many research projects,” adding that Blueberries are a nutritious and safe food… adding blueberries to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is warranted.”
Dr Jeremy Spencer, who conducted the study at the University of Reading in 2008 into the effect of Blueberries, discovered that anthocyanins existing in blueberries were responsible for triggering the section of the brain that is concerned with learning and memory.

He said, “Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time. Our research provides scientific evidence to show that blueberries are good for you and supports the idea that a diet-based approach could potentially be used to increase memory capacity. We will be taking these findings to the next level by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.”

The study entitled ‘Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults‘was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The best thing about blueberries is that generally even avid fruit haters like them- you can bake them in muffins, mix in ice cream and milkshakes to get the fussiest of eaters to enjoy them. An all round super fruit!!

So I have been making myself ‘flapjacks’ of a fashion as in the morning there is not really time at work to have breakfast- and I was ending up not eating until about 11am. These are perfect as I can just eat them as I am setting up for the morning.

I never follow a recipe as such- but the batch I made this week were great- so thought I would see if I could remember what I had done….

I used a 9 x 9in baking tin which I buttered.

The oven was around 170- 180 deg……

I had some apples which needed using up- about 5 which I peeled and chopped then put in a pan with a bit of water and a BIG shake of cinnamon.

I let these simmer on a low heat for around 20 mins – until really soft, then I blended them with a hand blender…..

While the apples are simmering I got a huge mixing bowl and shoved in about 100g self raising flour, 100g wheat germ (lots of vitamins etc in here) and lots of oats- 200g maybe? I also added a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking powder. Then I chopped some pecans and walnuts (think protein) – probably a good big double handful. With the dry ingredients it really doesn’t matter what you use- you can add fruit, different nuts, the wheatgerm is optional, sometimes I add chocolate…….ok a lot of the time I add chocolate!

Back to the apple blended mix- here it all goes a bit hazy as I tend to just shove in what needs using up! I added a tub of cream cheese- gives it a nice consistency and more protein. About 200g peanut butter – for the same reasons as the cream cheese and the fact that I LOVE it. However if you are not keen on either of these I would just use more butter instead – as I only put in about 2 tablespoons along with the peanut butter and cream cheese. Also added about 100g brown sugar and 2 tablespoons honey.

All this on the hob at a low heat stirring until it’s smooth and warm.

Then mix the oat and apple mixes together – if its too wet add more oats – I think I added a good couple handfuls more. If too dry melt a bit more butter and sugar….

Pat it down into your baking tin and into oven – mine were only in 10-15 mins – just need to be in there until the top is brown. Take out and cut up into bars.

So why are these good – other than because they taste it……

Porridge and oats: these complex carbohydrates are so good for you it hurts! High in vitamin B6 so boosts levels of serotonin, the brains feelgood chemical. Rich in soluble fibre that is proven to lower blood cholesterol, and gives a slow release of energy. A study of 10000 children showed oats for brekkie helped reduce childhood obesity by half. Oats stabilise blood sugar thus boosts concentration. Slow energy release (Low GI) keeps blood sugar level and you feel fuller for longer. Also proven to help weight loss, heart disease, diabetes, reduce blood pressure, fight infection and boost the immune system………..get eating!!

Honey: antibacterial properties help you ward off germs and bugs. Helps relieve indigestion, ulcers and eczema.

Nuts: high in protein and unsaturated fat, reduce risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Wheat germ: very high in protein – around 28% which is more than can be found in most meat products. Has more potassium and iron than any other food source. Also has high amounts of riboflavin, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, B1, B3 and E. Vitamins B1 and 3 are very important in energy levels and maintaining healthy muscles, organs, hair and skin. Vitamin E is a very important antioxidant helpful in preventing the body’s aging process and also to prevent heart disease. Vitamin E also helps to prevent blood clots and is needed to strengthen the body’s immune system.

Convinced yet…….?

Digestive health therapy is a way of making sure that you have the right type and amount of digestive enzymes. Although the body manufactures its own digestive enzymes in the pancreas, a lot of help is received from the enzymes that exist in the food you eat. However, due to eating over processed or over cooked food most if not all of the enzymes contained in the food are destroyed. This means that the body has to work harder to compensate for the lack of natural enzymes. It also means that the food is not digested as completely as it should be.

enzymes also help in building strong bones, purifying the blood, fixing connective tissue, detoxifying the body and reducing inflammation. The enzymes most concerned with digestion are amylase, lipase, and protease. The biggest source of these enzymes is from fresh raw foods such as fruits and vegetables. As they are often destroyed in cooking a lot of people are taking to a raw food diet; if not completely then partially.

Another reason why the raw food diet is becoming more popular is because it is predominantly alkaline and as the body itself is more alkaline than acidic, there is a natural synchronicity. The more that food is processed and cooked, the more it becomes acidic and brings with it potential digestive problems. Moving to a completely raw food diet may be a huge undertaking, but just a little fresh food will go a long way to assisting your body with what is a pretty huge task; that of digestion.

However, it is not to be said that gains cannot be made just by slight modifications to your existing diet, steam and stir fry veg a bit more, add a little salad to your sandwich, and much on an apple a day…….

I have decided that this week I would like to stay open to whatever aspects of health that people feel are important, it may be that you love exercise and want to share why, or that you hate it and want to express frustration that you know that you should be doing something you detest.

Maybe you have a food related issue, sharing a recipe you love, healthy for body or healthy for mind are both relevant here, it is possible that your favourite ‘bad’ food has a very important place in your diet if it makes you happy. Or maybe you have a particular dietary intolerance and you want some recipe ideas to help things be less mundane.

You may be suffering an ache or pain and want some advice, or have a top tip for great skin and hair.

Let’s go, I want to hear all your ideas!

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