How Tart Cherry Offers Support For Memory Health – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 238
tart cherry
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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The National Institute on Aging recommends following a healthy diet, staying physically active, being mentally active, socializing, and looking after your health in general, like controlling your blood pressure and blood sugar, for you to maintain cognitive health and memory functions well into old age. Tart cherries have recently entered that mix. They really should be part of a healthful diet.
Some research on the benefits of tart cherry
The journal Food and Function published a very recent study from various departments and schools at the University of Delaware. They wanted to test the effects of tart cherry on brain health and memory functions in adults between the ages 65 to 80. They had normal cognitive function. They did not have memory loss. The researchers gave the subjects Montmorency tart cherry twice a day for 12 weeks. Then, they tested subjective memory and objective cognitive performances and they found a difference. They found a difference from baseline results, before they were given the tart cherry, and the end of the study. By the end of the study, the people in their 60s, 70s and 80s were more content and more calm and also did better on memory scores and on memory function tests, as well as performing better on learning tasks, retaining memory, working memory and visual sustained attention. Across the board, there were many improvements with the tart cherry. After 12 weeks, the University of Delaware found better memory, better contentment and more calmness in their subjects. They also responded more quickly to information. They had a 23% reduction in errors in episodic visual memory, a 3% improvement in visual sustained attention and an 18% reduction in errors during spatial memory working tasks, which includes doing math and things like that. These are really good results.†
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The tart cherry is loaded with flavonoids called anthocyanins that are good for circulation. They’re very powerful antioxidants, which is interesting because antioxidant levels in the eyes and brain decline with age and anthocyanins are very good for both your eyes and brain.†
If you look at the data on tart cherries in general, there are studies out of Texas A&M where they gave their NCAA athletes the skins of Montmorency tart cherries, called CherryPUREⓇ, and they performed better physically, recovered faster and had fewer injuries. There’s a number of studies that they published.†
There are other studies about tart cherry helping to improve blood flow, blood pressure and nighttime sleep. You’re taking tart cherry in the daytime for brain power, but at night, you’re sleeping better. There’s several studies on that, too. In fact, we’ve done a podcast episode on tart cherry and other nutrients that can help you sleep better at night.†
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Tune into the full podcast episode for more studies about the positive impacts of tart cherry.
More about tart cherry
Tart cherry is very safe. If you mix tart cherry in with real cocoa or red beets, these combinations help boost circulation in the brain. You can also take tart cherry with resveratrol. Those are good couplings to restore circulation to your aging brain. If you’re over the age of 50, I would recommend that because, if you keep the circulation going, you lose fewer memory cells.†
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