Celebrate Brain Health Month with Walnuts and Blueberries

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating it with the California Walnut Board and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council! Brain health is important at every age in the lifecycle, but especially relevant for older adults. Let’s show our noggins a little extra love this month and beyond with blueberries and walnuts.

For shoppers looking to make nutritious food decisions, blueberries and walnuts offer a delicious, no-fuss solution. It’s simple to grab a boost of blue and walnuts too, every day. Walnuts can be seasoned to meet sweet, salty or spicy flavor cravings – or enjoyed raw. And, just one cup of blueberries provides vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and anthocyanins – compounds that give blueberries their blue color. Delicious and nutritious? That’s what we call a win-win.

Blueberries, and walnuts have both been studied in connection with brain health.

Blueberries

• One cup of blueberries is considered one serving of fruit d provides vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and anthocyanins – compounds that give blueberries their blue color – all for just 80 calories.

Walnuts

• One ounce of walnuts (about a handful) offers important nutrients including 4g protein, 2g fiber and are a good-fat food predominantly comprised of polyunsaturated (13g) and monounsaturated (2.5g) fats.

• Snacking on walnuts provides ALA omega-3 fatty acid (2.5g/oz, the only nut with a rich source!), studied in connection with brain health. 

With these tasty benefits, what’s not to love about walnuts and blueberries?! If you’re looking to add more of each to your diet this month, check out these delicious recipes. From nutty blueberry “brain bite” muffins to fruit-and-nut snack mixes and everything in between, you’ll find something that everyone is sure to love.

Happy and Healthy Eating,