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July is blueberry month.
Blueberries get their blue colour from a pigment called anthocyanin which is a potent antioxidant. Our bodies are awash with molecules produced during natural processes such as digestion and also in response to unavoidable exposure to radiation and tobacco smoke. These molecules are termed free radicals and can damage cells unless mopped up by the body. This is where antioxidants come in; the free radical hunters. Cancer is often the result of free radicals gone astray.
The fibre in blueberries is good for digestive health whilst high levels of vitamin C boost your immune system. The very latest scientific research from the University of Michigan's Cardioprotection Research Laboratory reveals that rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat. Researchers say the results suggest that antioxidant-rich blueberries may change how the body stores and processes glucose or sugar for energy. Oh yes, blueberries are packed with nutritional power. But have you ever considered the psychological benefits?
With our increasing lifespan the race is on to find effective anti-ageing treatments driven by public demand. We strive to maintain our mental flexibility and vitality as long as possible. As we grow older, there's a steady decline in how fast we can process information and in how much we can store in working memory. In addition, as the brain ages it becomes far more vulnerable to free radical damage.
Scientific studies have indicated that eating blueberries may improve our psychological capabilities of memory, speed of thought and hand-eye coordination. Animals who ate blueberries had healthier-looking brains. Their brain cells were more fluid facilitating the transfer of chemicals – this improves the brain's ability to send and receive signals.
And never underestimate the incredible power of belief. If you eat your daily bowl of blueberries and believe it's doing you good then guess what? It will be. The blueberry placebo. Did you know that a placebo doesn't have to be a pill? It can be a special diet or a specific fitness regime you choose to follow - the so-called 'placebo effect' (the evidence that the food or exercise is having a positive effect) is triggered by your belief in the treatment and expectation of improvement. Motivation is also a factor. Your active goals will alter the detection and interpretation of the outcome. A person who has a major health goal and decides to boost their immune system with a daily dose of blueberries will 'feel' confident in their ability to ward off the 'nasties' simply because that's what they were expecting, wanting, anticipating. We experience what we expect to experience. Doesn't an expensive bottle of wine invariably taste better than a supermarket cheapo?
Your mind accepts only information that reinforces your beliefs. Conflicting Information is rejected.
Just stop for a minute and consider the implications of that! Learn to control your beliefs and you not only free your mind of problems, but your body as well.
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