The Mighty Blueberry

Three studies from a single group lead by Claire Williams at the University of Reading, England, show the power of the blueberry.^1,2 The first 2 studies (which were published in a single paper) examined mood 2 hours after a single drink, and the third looked at longer term effects of a daily drink over 4 weeks.^1,2 All 3 studies were positive, with effect sizes that ranged from small (0.27) to medium (0.65).

The Table outlines the key points from the 3 studies.

Blueberries have several positive effects on the brain. Most of these effects are because of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants that give the fruit its purplish-blue hue. Anthocyanins are found in other purple-tinted foods, like blackberries, blackcurrants, acai, black “forbidden” rice, eggplant, and the exotic purple varieties of cauliflower, asparagus, and sweet potatoes. Anthocyanins are also featured in red produce like cranberries, cherries, pomegranate, and red cabbage.