Having a blueberry smoothie with lots of fresh blueberries can help keep the brain working at peak efficiency throughout the day, research has revealed. The study, carried out by molecular nutritionist Dr Jeremy Spencer at the University of Reading, has revealed that the antioxidants contained in blueberries help maintain the blood flow to the brain, thereby keeping it healthy and operating efficiently even in the afternoon.

The study was carried out on a group of 40 students aged between 18 and 30 years. For one month, the participants were given one blueberry smoothie with their breakfast. Following that, they were asked to take various tests that measured their power of concentration throughout the day.

After one month, the same participants were asked to perform the activities as before, only this time they were served regular breakfasts.  The result showed that when the participants took blueberry smoothies with breakfast, their concentration levels remained high all the way to the afternoon, but without it, their concentration dwindled in the afternoon.

Dr. Spencer commented that “the findings were impressive and have the potential in the long term to lead to cognitive improvement”, adding that the high level of antioxidants can indeed make a person’s brain healthier in the long run.