Brain Health – LearningRx, Inc. | LearningRx Blog

If a “healthier brain” is on your holiday wish list, you’rein luck. That’s because cranberries–a staple at most holidayfeasts–are actually good for your brain.

Studies show that cranberries protect brain cells from free-radical damagethat impairs cognitive and motor functions. According to an article in Psychology Today by Hara Estroff Marano, “Aging animals givencranberries showed actual improvements in normal age-related declinesin working memory, reference memory, balance and coordination.” Inother words, says, Marano, “They were able to keep on learning.”

In fact, when it comes to preserving brain function, cranberries are sopowerful they can even reduce impairment following a stroke! In a2003 study, researchers discovered that by exposing neurons to a concentration ofcranberry extract, there was a 50 percent reduction in brain cell death.Catherine Neto, a lead investigator in the study says, “Cranberrieshave the potential to protect against brain cell damage that occurs duringa stroke,” adding, “It may not stop a stroke from occurring,but it may reduce the severity.”

This is good news for many Americans, since as a nation we consume morethan five millions gallons of jellied cranberry sauce every holiday season. EvenJohn Lennon must have liked cranberries since he confirmed in a 1980 interview that,at the end of the song Strawberry Fields Forever, he can be heard repeatingthe words “cranberry sauce.”

What does this mean for you and your family this holiday season?

If you’re into cranberries, check out these quick and easy cranberry holiday recipes. Orthese.

And if you really did put a “healthier brain” at the top of yourholiday wish list, we admire your wisdom. And while cranberries by themselvesmay not be the single solution, they’re definitely a tasty start.