Daily consumption of 26 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder moderately improves cognitive processing speed, lowers systolic blood pressure, and increases total-antioxidant capacity in older healthy adults, potentially promoting cognitive function and improving cardiovascular risk factors, according to new research from San Diego State University.
Strawberries are a source of many bioactive compounds. In addition to providing 100% of our daily vitamin C needs, strawberries contain heart-healthy nutrients like folate, potassium, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols.
Previous clinical trials have connected strawberry consumption to improvements in several markers for cardiovascular disease, including reduced total and LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
The link between strawberry consumption and brain health has also been well explored in both clinical and population-based studies.
Strawberries and pelargonidin, a biochemical primarily found in strawberries, were associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia in studies conducted at Rush University.
Long-term observational studies, including the Health Professionals Study and the Nurses’ Health Study, found that strawberry consumers had lower rates of cognitive decline.
“The polyphenolic compounds in strawberries may improve cognitive function and cardiovascular health due to their antioxidant capacities,” said San Diego State University’s Professor Shirin Hooshmand and colleagues.
“We aimed to examine the effects of strawberries on cognitive function and cardiometabolic health in healthy aging adults.”
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 35 healthy men and women, aged 66 to 78.
The participants consumed 26 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, equivalent to two servings of strawberries daily, or a control powder for eight weeks each.
Following strawberry consumption, cognitive processing speed increased by 5.2%, systolic blood pressure decreased by…
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