The arrival of the first British strawberries of the year is always a treat.
But now scientists have shown that, like satisfying our taste buds, they can also help to ward off dementia.
Research has shown that the fruit can stimulate the speed with which the brain information of older people process the information.
It is known that age-related decrease in cognitive processing speed is a symptom of dementia-a disease that affects nearly 900,000 in the UK.
The findings come when Great -Britain is preparing to enjoy one of the best strawberry crops in years. Shoppers have told to expect giant berries twice so that the normal size grew after weeks of dry, sunny weather.
This is welcome news for a country that uses no less than 168,000 tons per year.
Earlier research has already shown that the chemicals known as flavonoids that contain strawberries can strengthen the health of the heart.
And in the last study, a team of San Diego State University in the US recruited 35 men and women in the 1970s to see if the same effects in the brain could be seen.
Scientists have shown that, in addition to satisfying our taste buds, strawberries can also help to ward off dementia (stock image)
It is known that age-related decrease in cognitive processing speed is a symptom of dementia-one disease that affects nearly 900,000 in the UK (stock image)
The scientists gave the participants a freeze -dried strawberry powder, made with a handful of fresh berries, to mix and drink water every day for eight weeks.
They then repeated the experiment with a fruit -wardring powder that contained none of the health -promoting ingredients in strawberries. Researchers then had the volunteers performed cognitive tests.
They found a clear improvement in the processing speed of the brain after consumption of the strawberry powder but little change with the fruit drink.
Although there was little improvement in scores for memory tests after consuming strawberries, researchers said that the change in processing capacity was considerable.
Lower processing speed is known to hinder people’s driving skills and make financial decisions more difficult.
The strawberries also helped to lower blood pressure and led to increased levels of disease-loving antioxidants in the blood, the results published in magazine food, metabolism and cardiovascular disease.
The researchers said: “Strawberry consumption can improve the cognitive function and there is support for its effects on the health of the brain.”
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