Eating blueberries every day may have a surprising effect on your mood
Eating blueberries every day could have surprising effects on mood, according to a small study that found greater reductions in depressive symptoms among older adults who consumed the fruit for three months.
Eating blueberries every day could have surprising effects on mood, according to a small study that found greater reductions in depressive symptoms among older adults who consumed the fruit for three months.
The short version
- Researchers also detected changes in gut microbial enzymes, suggesting a possible gut-brain connection, although the mood benefits were not statistically significant compared with a placebo.
- A small pilot study suggests that eating blueberries every day may influence gut bacteria and potentially affect mood in older adults.
- Participants who consumed blueberries regularly experienced a greater and more consistent reduction in depressive symptoms, along with subtle changes in genes associated with gut microbial enzymes.
What happened
However, the improvements in depressive symptoms were not statistically significant when compared with the placebo group. Although the findings do not establish that blueberries can relieve depression, they offer preliminary clues about a possible connection between blueberry consumption, the gut microbiome, and mental health.
Why it matters
To investigate the potential connection, researchers recruited adults aged 65 and older who were physically inactive and experiencing mild depressive symptoms.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at ScienceDaily — Top Science via the links above and below.