I’ll admit that I’ve been known to enjoy a cooling cocktail from time to time during the summer. I’m not sure there’s a better summer drink than vodka and cranberry.
You just have to be conservative about the vodka part. All things in moderation, right?
Well, maybe not ALL things. Because while alcohol use should always be in moderation, feel free to let loose when it comes to cranberries. As long as you’re sticking to the real-deal berry and not some sugary cranberry-flavored substitute, go ahead and have some more.
In fact, if you’re willing to enjoy that drink virgin (call it a cranberry fizz if you like), you can get more than just a light, and refreshing summertime treat on a hot afternoon. You could also enjoy an extra pop of brain protection.
Because new research finds cranberry could help improve memory in seniors.
How cranberry can boost memory
The new study focused on folks ranging in age from their 50s to their 80s. And all of them were healthy at the start of the study.
But you know how memory can be affected as you age. The edges can get a little fuzzy at times. And you could use a little help sharpening it all out.
That’s especially true when it comes to something scientists call episodic memory. But that’s simply jargon for recollecting things that have happened or that you’ve done. And that’s precisely where cranberry helped.
Over 12-weeks, the equivalent of a cup of cranberries a day (in this case, given as a freeze-dried powder for consistency) led to significant memory-linked changes compared to a placebo.
That included improvements in:
- episodic memory, or that ability to recall everyday stuff
- neural functioning, a crucial part of how the brain communicates
- blood flow to the brain, ensuring delivery of vital oxygen and nutrients
In a very real way, it’s like getting a “younger” brain… one with better memory and improved function.
It’s likely due to a couple of powerful nutrients found in cranberries called anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins or flavonoids. In other studies, these same compounds have already been linked to better cognitive function, improved memory, and a lower risk of decline and dementia.
And as a little side bonus, the folks in the new study who got the cranberry ended up with lower LDL cholesterol.
Make the most of cranberry benefits
Memory improvement isn’t the only benefit cranberries bring to the table. Over the years, I’ve shared plenty of research with you about the different ways cranberry can enhance your health, from helping to fight off infections to protecting your heart.
In fact, I wrote about the blood-flow-boosting benefits of this remarkable berry just last month. But there’s always a downside. And in this case, that’s the cranberry itself.
Cranberries are too tart to eat or drink on their own. And most of the methods the food industry uses to make the berry palatable involve adding sugar. A LOT of sugar. And that can undo some of the cranberry’s benefits.
But you do have some other options. For example, you can use cranberry extract in your own recipes by mellowing out the tart flavor with ingredients you can control. And that doesn’t just mean sticking to vodka and club soda.
Mixing cranberry extract and other fresh fruits into yogurt or cottage cheese is an excellent option. Or try stirring a tablespoon of the concentrate into some seltzer water with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice for a refreshing memory tonic.
Feel free to experiment in everything from salad dressings to your own morning drink blends or smoothies. Or you can cut right to the chase and take a cranberry extract supplement.
And if cranberry isn’t your thing in any form, just be sure to eat a diet rich in brightly colored foods – especially berries. You’ll be getting many of the same nutrients and likely most of the same benefits, too.
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