Effects of Fruit on Mental and Cognitive Health

Fruit consumption has been shown to confer a number of health effects to the consumer. This may relate to the beneficial phytochemicals within fruit which includes high amounts of fibre and antioxidants. One particular health effect that may occur with fruit consumption is that of an improvement in mental health and cognitive function. For example, one literature review on the topic identified a number of different fruits that may benefit brain health. The results of this study showed that fruit consumption was associated with improved brain health, and in particular the authors suggested that cherries and their juice may improve psychomotor speed, and that grapes and their juice were associated with improved cognition. There was a general trend in a number of studies to show fruit conferred improvements in brain function, including cognition. One suggestion is that the antioxidants within the fruit may confer neuroprotective effects, whilst another is that the fibre may improve and stabilise blood glucose supply to the brain. 

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Wang, Y., Haskell-Ramsay, C., Gallegos, J.L. and Lodge, J.K. 2022. Effects of chronic consumption of specific fruit (berries, cherries and citrus) on cognitive health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 1-16

About Robert Barrington

Robert Barrington is a writer, nutritionist, lecturer and philosopher.
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