[Follow the Wikipedia links]
This is the 5th of 8 essays on new berry science reported at the
2nd International Symposium on Berry Health Benefits,
Oregon State University, Corvallis
June 11-12, 2007
First a review of background ...
A pandemic of poor diets and lifestyle practices linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, cancer, chronic inflammation, pain and cardiovascular diseases
has swept across the world in recent decades.
Recognizing the urgent need to redirect consumer attention toward healthier eating habits and lifestyles, various scientific and consumer organizations have released advisories
for eating higher amounts of whole natural foods, including color-rich plants like berries.
Health Power of Pigments
Discussed previously from the Berry Doctor's Journal
Every one of 27 presentations at the Oregon Berry Health Benefits Symposium
discussed the potential health values of anthocyanins.
What are anthocyanins?
Anthocyanins (from Greek: anthos = flower + kyanos = blue) are water-soluble
pigments that appear in a general range of red to blue, according to acidity.
In response to ripening maturity and environmental stressors,
they are synthesized by plants and bacteria, occurring in all tissues of higher plants, providing color in leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits.
Recent industry report: anthocyanins from bilberries and blackcurrants
inhibit inflammation
Read other background about anthocyanins in this series
Part 1 - Obesity and diabetes
Part 2 - Cancer
Part 3 - Bacterial Infections
Part 4 - Brain Health
Take Your Pain Medicine...
Berries As Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Background (get more research at Wikipedia)
Diseases Possibly Involving Inflammation as Part of the Disorder
- cancer
- osteoarthritis
- atherosclerosis (plaque development on the insides of arteries)
- hypertension (high arterial blood pressure)
- aggregation of platelets (blood cells) and venous thrombosis
- Alzheimer's disease (deposits of plaque in the brain)
- Parkinson's disease (death of dopamine-producing brain cells)
- obesity and metabolic syndrome
Evidence for anti-inflammatory effects of berries, presented at the Symposium
Using Concord grapes and cranberries, Dr. Jess Reed (University of Wisconsin) demonstrated in laboratory experiments that berry anthocyanins and their cousin chemicals, proanthocyanidins reduce
1) platelet aggregation
2) development of vascular plaques in laboratory animals
3) high arterial blood pressure
4) total serum cholesterol levels
Read a summary of Dr. Reed's studies here
Dr. Jim Joseph (USDA, Tufts University, Boston) showed that blueberry polyphenols (pigment flavonoids, anthocyanins, flavonols, tannins) reduced inflammation in brain cells of rats. Here's the scientific summary... (click!)
Concord grapes (Vitis labrusca hybrid)
Recent publications showing anti-inflammatory effects of berries
(click on the links!)
Controlling inflammation may be
in our own hands...
Could health be any easier?
Additional References (inexpensive on Amazon.com)
- Heber D. What Color Is Your Diet?, ReganBooks/HarperCollins, New York, 2001
- Joseph JA, Nadeau DA, Underwood A. The Color Code, Hyperion Books, New York, 2002
Upcoming Essays from the
2007 Symposium on Berry Health Benefits
- Obesity and Diabetes
- Cancer
- Bacterial Infections
-
Brain Health
- Inflammation (Today)
- Interpreting Anti-Disease Benefits from Preliminary Research
- Processing and Storage Effects on Nutrients
- A Dietary Guide
ARCHIVES (click!)
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Dr. Paul
The Berry Doctor
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