Detox Your Brain In One Easy Step

Carl Lowe | Feb 04, 2013 | Comments 3

Your brain can naturally clean itself of toxins and keep memory strong. But you have to feed it the right foods to fuel this mind-saving process.

Research shows that some of the best foods to keep the brain detoxed are blueberries, strawberries and acai berries. These berries contain polyphenolics, compounds that help lower inflammation in brain cells.

“The good news is that natural compounds called polyphenolics found in fruits, vegetables and nuts have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect that may protect against age-associated decline,” says researcher Shibu Poulose of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston.

Cells called microglia are the brain’s janitors. In a process called autophagy, they remove and recycle biochemical debris that otherwise can hamper brain function.

“But in aging, microglia fail to do their work, and debris builds up,” Poulose explains. “In addition, the microglia become over-activated and actually begin to damage healthy cells in the brain. Our research suggests that the polyphenolics in berries have a rescuing effect. They seem to restore the normal housekeeping function. These findings are the first to show these effects of berries.”