{"id":551,"date":"2017-02-21T17:44:48","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T17:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.reading.ac.uk\/the-forum\/?p=551"},"modified":"2021-11-03T14:19:39","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T14:19:39","slug":"feeling-blue-berries-may-help-boost-mood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/2017\/02\/21\/feeling-blue-berries-may-help-boost-mood\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling blue? Berries may help boost mood"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Katie Barfoot \u2013 Nutritional Psychology Lab, University of Reading<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We all know that fruit and veg is good for us. But some new research<\/a> from the University of Reading has revealed there is more than meets the eye with the little blue super fruits we call blueberries.<\/p>\n

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These berries, which are full of a type of nutrient called flavonoids, were shown in two separate studies to improve the positive mood of children and young adults just two hours after consumption.<\/p>\n

The two studies, which were conducted by the University\u2019s School of Psychology and Clinical Language Science\u2019s Nutritional Psychology Lab, were run in two populations \u2013 healthy young adults aged 18-21, and healthy schoolchildren aged 7-10.<\/p>\n

After consumption of a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink, both groups rated their positive mood as being significantly higher than before the blueberry drink consumption.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, we know it was the flavonoids present in the blueberry drink that made the difference, because no such finding was observed in a group of study participants who consumed a placebo control drink, which was matched for sugars, vitamins and taste.<\/p>\n

So how are these flavonoids working?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Previous research conducted by the University of Reading discovered short-term improvements in attention and memory after consumption of a blueberry drink in adults and children. It may be these improvements in attention which are mediating positive mood effects, via increased blood flow to the brain.<\/p>\n

These studies demonstrate how including flavonoid-rich foods as part of a healthy, balanced diet might play a key role in promoting positive mood and potentially preventing low mood.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t like blueberries, all is not lost. Flavonoids are found in many fruits and vegetables, so such an effect has positive implications for improving public health.<\/p>\n

Further research will be needed, but this could be a simple way that we might improve health and well-being throughout brain development in childhood and into adulthood.<\/p>\n