Article By: John Fontana

From 1946 to 1964, more than 76 million babies were born in the United States, a generation now holding the most popular nickname of all time “Baby Boomers.” 2010 is now an inverse year for them, as the oldest (born in 1946) are now 64 and the youngest (born in 1964) are now 46. As many of them are winding their professional careers down and looking to enjoy their retirement, health seems to be a major concern. But it seems a bit ironic that Baby Boomers are suddenly so concerned with health considering how much they’ve negatively changed the foods we eat over the years.

The Baby Boom generation’s concerns are certainly valid. With age typically comes a variety of health concerns including loss of memory, loss of vision, and risk of cancer. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but these are real issues that need to be faced and addressed. While we have never been better equipped to battle diseases thanks to advanced drugs and pharmaceuticals, a heavy focus should also be aimed at preventative methods. Food can really be the make-or-break for long-term vitality. Following a healthy diet can add many healthy years to your life, while eating poorly will not only shorten your life but also decrease your chances of successfully fighting off illness and disease.

Certain foods should be staples in everyone’s diet, especially with those who are facing the challenge of staying healthy while aging. There are a few foods that I think Baby Boomers should eat on a regular basis because of the specific health benefits they provide. Because of this I am naming blueberries the official fruit of the Baby Boomer generation. Blueberries have shown to help with memory, eye sight and fight specific cancers that are notorious for affecting people as they age.

Why So Good?

Brainy Blueberries

One of the biggest benefits of blueberries is that they are great for your brain and memory. Certain chemical compounds in blueberries have show to benefit many diseases that are related to aging. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds reduce inflammation and oxidative stress that show up in just about every type of disease. As people age, memory begins to fade and the brain’s ability to process certain neurological signals goes down. Balance and coordination begin to deteriorate a bit because the neurons are not “talking” to each other the way they once were. Polyphenols found in blueberries have shown to signal the neurons to interact with one another. The constant communication between the neurons and blueberries’ ability to aid in neuron development in the brain make them the ultimate brain food.

Safe From Cancer

The risk of colon cancer can go down tremendously with continuous consumption of blueberries. The growth of certain cancer-causing cells was drastically reduced in certain studies when blueberry extracts were included. Colon cancer risk increases steadily the older a person gets and therefore so should blueberry consumption.

Ovarian cancer is another type of cancer that blueberries can help prevent. Kaempferol is a type of phytonutrient that is commonly found in blueberries and can be a major benefit to women. Women who eat kaempferol-rich foods have been shown to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by nearly 50%. There is no doubt that aging women suffer from a higher risk of ovarian cancer, and blueberries may be a major protector from that.

Blueberries: The Antioxidant King

The ORAC is a system that scientist use to measure the antioxidant power of foods. Of all the fruit in the world, blueberries come up with the highest ORAC rating. Certain antioxidants work better when paired with other antioxidants and the ORAC rating system measures how well these antioxidants interact with one another. Considering that antioxidants help to fight free radicals, which are the building blocks to any disease and blueberries have the best combination of antioxidants in any fruit, I think eating them is a good idea.

When it comes down to it, prevention is way more important than curing. If you can prevent many diseases from developing in your body, you will never have to worry about a cure. Blueberries are clearly a food that have some amazing disease-preventing properties. It is never too early or too late to start taking these preventative measures and going out to buy blueberries today is a great start.

How To Eat?

Since blueberries have a very thin skin, I recommend that you always buy organic. The sprays that farmers use on conventionally raised blueberries will effect the chemical makeup of the berries and reduce the amount of positive phytonutrients. Buying wild, organic blueberries is the way to go and it is even good to buy the frozen kind. Frozen fruits are actually really good because they hold a lot of the nutrients that are in the blueberries right when they are picked. Some fruit will lose those nutrients the longer they sit on shelves, so don’t be afraid to buy the frozen type.

Blueberries are great either straight out of the container, mixed into yogurt or blended with a shake. There are really unlimited ways to get blueberries into your diet, so there is really no excuse not to eat them. Buy a pack today and start to prevent any diseases that may follow with age.

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