How might berries improve human health, healthy aging, and quality of life?

Maybe due to their anti-inflammatory effects, since inflammation can be an underlying

contributing factor in the development, progression, and complications of a number of chronic diseases.

Higher intake of anthocyanins, the brightly colored pigments and berries, has been associated with

anti-inflammatory effects, which may be a key component underlying the associated reduction

in chronic disease risk.

But these are all just associations.

You can't prove cause and effect until you

put it to the test. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that blueberry

smoothies could turn off inflammation genes. This is measuring the expression of pro-inflammatory

genes in white blood cells taken from individuals

before and after six weeks of drinking placebo smoothies with no blueberries.

They got worse over time.

Six weeks later, more inflammatory chemicals pouring out, whereas the blueberry group started

out about the same at week zero.

But six weeks of daily blueberries and the expression of inflammatory genes went down.

In addition to attenuating inflammation, they demonstrate that blueberry consumption was able

to significantly decrease the levels of free radicals in their bloodstream.

No change in the placebo group, but after six weeks of blueberry smoothies, the levels of free radicals in their bloodstream. No change in the placebo group, but after six weeks of blueberry smoothies, the amount of

free radicals in their blood was extinguished by half.

Okay, but does all that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power actually translate into

clinical benefits?

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