The end-of-year festivities are nearing at high speed and everyone around me seems tired. Irritated. Or simply overwhelmed. It could be weather-related. Lack of good sleep. Or our exhausting, always-on-the-run lifestyle. In this series started more than a year ago, I explore foods that are good for our brains. Today, I'm looking into a favorite, berries!

Many experts claim that colored foods such as berries are very beneficial to our health. As a matter of fact, berries are particularly rich in anthocyanin, a type of flavonoid/antioxidant. What are these? Simply put, flavonoids are a group of phytonutrients and are responsible for the vivid colors of some fruits and vegetables. Berries have been considered a food source for centuries if not millennia. How are they good for us? The main idea to retain here is that these fruits delay brain aging. And they do so much more too! Numerous studies show the positive impact of consuming berries on our brains, hearts, and health in general.

The special power of berries resides in their antioxidant content. Why is that? Because polyphenols found in berries can slow down or even prevent dementia and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. And they also boost your immune system and anti-inflammatory activities. Anthocyanin is known to keep blood vessels free of plaque, regulate your blood flow, keep your tension level in check, and detox your liver. Cranberries for example contain a lot of proanthocyanins which can reduce urinary tract infections. Berries are also loaded with fiber and contain a lot of water, which renders them the ideal partner to help you lose some fat. And this is important because too much fat, not only too much sugar, can damage our brains.

There are many different types of berries. If you would like to learn more about the way they look, and what their health benefits are, check 20 types of berries and how to use them and also The Disease Fighting Power of Berries. For recipes that are easy to make, read my previously shared recipes: Lemon and Blueberry Cake (Lemon Blu in short), Blueberry Muffins and Bread, or Strawberry White Chocolate Chips Cookies. You can also add cranberries, fresh or dried, and/or Goji berries to your daily salads to add flavor as well as nutrients.

Bon appétit🫐🍓🫐