Number One
In Antioxidant Activity.
Number One In Taste.
WILD
BLUEBERRIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COLOR CODE FOR HEALTHY EATING
Presenters at the American Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition
Conference Advocate Eating By Color to Encourage Successful Aging
BAR HARBOR, Maine (October 19, 2001) -- In an American Dietetic
Association symposium entitled "Fruits and Vegetables' Effects On Brain
Aging," James A. Joseph, Ph.D., Chief of the Neuroscience Laboratory at the
USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University will
present preliminary research demonstrating the potential connection between
the consumption of fruits and vegetables and successful aging. Dr. Joseph
will report that a diet of blueberries may improve motor skills and reverse
the short-term memory loss that comes with aging. USDA animal trials showed
improved navigational skills after a two-month diet of blueberry extract.
Although other fruits and vegetables were studied, only blueberries were
effective in improving motor behavior. (Source: Journal of Neuroscience,
September 15, 1999, 19(18); 8114-8121.)
Daily Dose of Blue™
The Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA) intends to focus its
consumer marketing efforts on educating the public as to the importance of
color when selecting fruits and vegetables. With new research linking health
properties directly to the plant compounds that give fruits and vegetables
their vibrant colors, WBANA will aggressively promote Wild Blueberries as
Nature's Healthy Blue Food™. Recent discoveries have attributed potential
antioxidant and anti-aging benefits to anthocyanins and other natural
compounds (phytochemicals) found in the deep blue pigment of Wild
Blueberries. Anthocyanins (from two Greek words meaning "plant" and "blue")
are responsible for the berry's blue color.
"We're going to tell consumers that they should be adding a half-cup of
Wild Blueberries to their daily 5 A Day program for healthy eating. We're
calling it the 'Daily Dose of Blue™' campaign," said WBANA Executive
Director John Sauvé. According to Sauvé, just a half-cup of Wild Blueberries
satisfies one of the recommended 5 A Day servings of fruits and vegetables.
In fact, the USDA ranks blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity. (Source:
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 44:701-705; 3426-3431, 1996;
46:2686-2693, 1998.) Antioxidants are known to help fight cancer, heart
disease and aging.
5 A Day
The National Cancer Institute's and the Produce for Better Health
Foundation's 5 A Day program will also turn its attention to the color
story, according to Sauvé. The groups have collaborated on the "Sample the
Spectrum" program which is color-focused. "There is an emerging national
discussion about the important role color could play in the ongoing struggle
to get consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables," said Sauvé. "WBANA
intends to work with groups like the National Cancer Institute and the
Produce for Better Health Foundation to advance this plan for successful
aging."
The Color Code
Dr. Joseph expects the release of his new book "The Color Code" co-authored
by Daniel Nadeau, MD in March 2002. The book promotes a very simple
multicolored eating plan to prevent most common age-related illnesses. "My
experience in the area of aging research and more specifically my most
recent work with blueberries has made me a believer in pigment power," said
Dr. Joseph. "We've always known that fruits and vegetables are good for you,
but now we're starting to find out why. The natural compounds that make
blueberries blue or spinach green are powerful allies in the fight against
aging."
WBANA is an international trade association of growers and processors of
Wild Blueberries from Maine, Atlantic Canada and Quebec, dedicated to
bringing Wild Blueberries to consumers worldwide.
SOURCE: Wild Blueberry Association of North America
WILD
BLUEBERRY HEALTH SUMMIT ATTRACTS TOP US AND CANADIAN SCIENTISTS
Fourth Annual Event Advances Understanding of the Many Health
Properties of Wild Blueberries
BAR HARBOR, Maine (August 8, 2001) -- For two days, top US and
Canadian health, nutrition and food science researchers will gather in Bar
Harbor, Maine to share their latest Wild Blueberry research. Now in its
fourth year, the summit is organized by the Wild Blueberry Association of
North America (WBANA) to provide a forum for scientists who are working with
Wild Blueberries to hold discussions about current findings and future
collaborations. Meetings will take place on August 9th and 10th.
"Wild Blueberry research is hot," said WBANA Executive Director John
Sauvé. "Because of the blueberry’s status as the #1 antioxidant fruit,
researchers naturally want to work with Wild Blueberries to explore their
potential. As a result, we’ve seen preliminary discoveries in the areas of
cancer, heart disease, urinary tract health and aging."
"As the only true-blue food, we’re optimistic that consumers will want to
add delicious Wild Blueberries to their diet once they realize the positive
impact on their overall health and well-being. We’ll be reminding consumers
to get their Daily Dose of Blue™ by encouraging them to pick up Frozen Wild
Blueberries any time of the year in their local supermarket. By adding
one-half cup a day of Frozen Wild Blueberries to their diet, our customers
can not only satisfy one of their recommended 5 A Day serving requirements,
but also receive the added benefits of Nature’s #1 Antioxidant Fruit™."
The following researchers will be attending the summit: James A.
Joseph, Ph.D., and Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Ph.D., Neuroscience
Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University;
Ronald Prior, Ph.D., USDA-ARS, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center;
Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., and Dick Cook, Ph.D., Department of
Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Maine, Orono; Amy Howell,
Ph.D., Blueberry & Cranberry Research Center, Rutgers University; Willy
Kalt, Ph.D., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nova Scotia; Mary Ann
Lila Smith, Ph.D., Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Daneel Ferreira,
Ph.D., National Center for Natural Products Research, University of
Mississippi.
Sauvé noted that Wild Blueberries are currently in the spotlight because
of a new national discussion about the important role color could play in
the ongoing struggle to get consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Research has shown that the plant chemicals that give fruits and vegetables
their vibrant colors are also the compounds responsible for various health
properties. In the case of Wild Blueberries, the plant compound anthocyanin
is thought to be the key to what makes the Wild Blueberry such a potent ally
in the fight against diseases of aging.
WBANA is an international trade association of growers and processors of
Wild Blueberries from Maine and Canada, dedicated to bringing Frozen Wild
Blueberries to consumers worldwide.
SOURCE: Wild Blueberry Association of North America
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