New Study Reveals Eating Cranberries Could Improve Your Memory

Cranberries are often an afterthought, used in jellies to garnish Thanksgiving dinner plates or as a fruity mixer inside your favorite cocktail. However, you might want to start rethinking how you incorporate this fruit into your daily diet as a new study reveals that eating cranberries could do wonders to improve your memory.

Frontiers in Nutrition states that the study took place over 12 weeks and monitored groups of adults aged between 50 and 80 years who were given freeze-dried cranberry powder. Documenting the changes in cognitive function, researchers found that consuming one small cup of cranberries on a daily basis can improve memory and overall brain function.

Indigenous to North America, cranberries (like blueberries) have recently been branded as a superfood. With the U.S. leading the world's production of cranberries, as stated by National Geographic, a new development in fighting against brain-related illnesses like dementia could see cranberry production soar to new heights.

According to the WHO, a staggering 55 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, with almost 10 million new cases each year. Consequently, researchers have turned their attention to new ways of preventing cognitive decline before it happens.

Senior Research Fellow Dr. David Vauzour, of Norwich Medical School University of East Anglia, explained, via a press release, "It is essential that novel solutions are identified to help reduce age-related neurodegeneration and until now, cranberries were an unutilized natural resource."

So what makes cranberries so unique? The Cranberry Institute explains that the crimson berries are rich in polyphenols like proanthocyanidins, which have been proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While the benefits have been proven to support the healthy function of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, Science Daily explains that cranberries also aid cardiovascular health by dilating blood vessels, which optimizes the delivery of blood to the brain, positively affecting cognitive function.

Although fresh cranberries can have a vibrant tartness that not everyone loves, it's worth added these mouth-puckering morsels to your diet. While they shine inside sweet treats, Food52 notes that you can also use the ruby red berries in savory recipes like warm bean salads and even tahdig!