| Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life | | | | what it needs to fight oxidative stress. |
| Age-old wisdom tells us that we should eat fruit to | | | | In new research, scientists from Korea and Cornell, |
| stay healthy. Once again, science catches up to the | | | | extracted specific nutrients, called phenols, from |
| old adage. A new study suggests that compounds in | | | | apples, bananas and oranges and used them to save |
| fruit, especially apples, may promote brain fitness as | | | | neuron-like cells grown in a dish. They treated the |
| you age. | | | | cells with hydrogen peroxide, which will cause |
| Specifically, researchers found that phenolics, | | | | oxidative stress and tested if the fruit extracts could |
| extracted from apples, bananas and oranges | | | | save the cells from damage and death. |
| protected neuron-like cells from dying in a dish. But | | | | Apples help neurons and blood vessels |
| before we get into the new results let's cover a little | | | | First, researchers looked at damage to the |
| background on what the fruits may be doing to | | | | protective membrane that surrounds the cells to see |
| protect your brain. | | | | if the fruit extract could prevent them from springing |
| Too much oxidative stress can lead to Alzheimer's | | | | leaks caused by the toxic peroxide. Second, |
| disease | | | | researchers measured the actual peroxide-induced |
| One of the things that can damage bodily tissues and | | | | death of the cells and the ability of the fruit phenols |
| cause disease is oxidative stress. This is essentially a | | | | to save them. |
| process that usually happens during the | | | | It turned out that all the tested fruit extracts were |
| manufacturing of energy. Just like a nuclear reactor | | | | effective at protecting membrane damage and cell |
| makes energy very efficiently, but at the same time | | | | death, but apple extract was the most potent. |
| produces toxic by-products, so do our tissues. | | | | In a related experiment researchers from the |
| Usually these toxic by-products are well controlled, | | | | University of California at Davis, also tested the ability |
| but occasionally they escape into our cells and tissues | | | | of apple extract to prevent cells from dying. But in |
| and do a little damage. If left unchecked, this damage | | | | this experiment they used endothelial cells, which are |
| can accumulate and eventually lead to disease. | | | | the cells that make up the walls of blood vessels. |
| Since the brain gets dibs on about 20% of the | | | | Again, since the brain utilizes a big share of the |
| calories that you eat, it has a lot of energy | | | | bodies oxygen supply, blood delivery through a |
| production going on and is at risk of oxidative stress. | | | | healthy circulatory system is a huge factor. And, the |
| In fact, many studies indicate that Alzheimer's | | | | health of the endothelial cells that make up the |
| disease brains are highly susceptible to oxidative | | | | vascular system is extremely important for overall |
| stress and that this may be one causative factor in | | | | brain health and fitness. |
| developing the disease in the first place. | | | | In this experiment, the apple extract met the |
| Fruit can protect you from oxidative stress | | | | challenge again. Researchers treated endothelial cells in |
| That's the bad news, now here's the good news. | | | | a dish with a toxin known to kill them, and were able |
| Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables can help | | | | to prevent the cell death with the apple extract. |
| prevent oxidative stress by neutralizing the toxic | | | | So there you have it. We should remember all that |
| by-products of the energy production process. That's | | | | stuff our grandmother told us and take heed. An |
| why it's so critical to get your recommended five to | | | | apple a day really may keep the doctor away and |
| nine servings a day. This gives your brain and body | | | | help maintain good brain function as we age. |