Written by I love berries of all kinds so that’s what popped into my head for something to bring to the #DoodlewashDinner tonight. Turns out, according to research from the Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University in Boston, berries protect the brain in a ton of different ways. Yep, they’re like brain armor! They shield your grey matter from damage caused by harmful free radicals (which sounds disturbing), reduce inflammation, and enhance brain cell survival. As I get older, I’m trying to gracefully hang on to all the brain cells I have left, so this makes them quite an attractive little treat.
The research also showed that toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other types of mental decline can be effectively cleared out by berries. I’ve been avoiding the spring cleaning on my house because tasks like that make me want to cry, but I could sign up for some brain spring cleaning. Especially if it means snacking on a lot of berries and not having to find out what’s actually behind the sofa these days. Not that you couldn’t do both, of course, it’s just that my newly berried brain has an even clearer picture of just how painfully drab housework is recommending I skip it.
But seriously, berries are something that definitely needs to be on the menu each day. They’re the best buddy a brain can have, helping that little genius in your skull age better, think better, learn better and remember more. Most foods can only boast to making you gassy, so the berries really have the upper hand here. Don’t hesitate to grab yourself a handful and enjoy!
You’re all invited to a Doodlewash Dinner Party during the month of May! Just tag your food or drink image #doodlewashdinner and I’ll feature you and your culinary creations in a delicious Doodlewash Gallery at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Pyrrol Red, Azo Orange, Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Pale, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
I’m with you Charlie, berries everyday. I’m having strawberries with dinner tonight! Your berry doodlewash is very appetizing. Bravo!
Thanks so much Sharon! 😃💕Yeah… aren’t berries the best? I love it when a food I love is actually good for me too! hehe
These look wonderful Charlie! Yesterday and today I had blueberry, strawberry, watermelon, lime and mint juice!
Thanks Jessica! 😃💕 Awesome… I knew your amazing brain must be running on berries! Hehe
Yummy!! Strawberries here again tonight so berries on the brain for sure! 🙂
Thanks Susan! 😃💕Yay! Yeah… berry up that brain, apparently. Hehe… if nothing else it’s a wonderful excuse to eat more strawberries!
Berries are my favorite and it is just about berry season in Oregon. You make them look so yummy!
I have a question about dinner. I have some food to bring to the dinner party tomorrow. I am afraid it will get cold while I figure out how to tag! Do I use the tag on my blog post tomorrow?
Thanks Carmel! Glad you liked my berries! 😃💕 And hehe… cold food.. oh no! On your WordPress post under tags and categories, just add “#Doodlewashdinner” to the tag section on the left and I should be able to see it when I search that tag. (but I’m also following you so it’s all good! 😉)
Thank you …I can do that 😀
I love berries, eat them every day: blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries at the moment. If you’re interested in brain health, I recommend Power Food for the Brain for a good read by Dr. Neal Barnard.
Thanks Angie! Berries are so delicious… it’s awesome to know they’re nutritious as well. And thanks for the book recommendation! 😃💕
Sure, no problem! 🙂
Yummy looking berries. I’m with you on eating a lot of berries, love them.
Thanks Teri! 😃💕Glad to know you’re in the berry club!
I love “brain armour” – red raspberries are my absolute fave! Your berries are berry beautiful! 🙂
Hehe… thanks Jodi! 😃💕Glad you like this! It’s fun to think indulging on berries is a brain booster. Not that I needed an excuse, of course! 😉
yummy! I love to make berry syrup in place of regular (high caloric) syrup, another good reason to have pancakes with your berries.
Thanks Margaret! 😃💕Yum… berry syrup and pancakes sounds amazing. Sign me up!!
So beautiful, Charlie! Your colors are stunning, bro!
Thanks sis! Glad you liked this! 😃💕I’m ending up with a fair bit of fruit for dinner since I love color so much.😊 hehe
Berry beautiful doodlewash, Charlie! hehe! 🙂 I love berries and eat them every day. Raspberries and Blackberries are my favs but I also like blueberries and strawberries if I can find sweet ones. And don’t forget huckleberries! 🙂
Thanks Jill!! 😃💕I’m not surprised you eat berries every day… you’re a smart creative cookie! hehe… and I still have yet to try huckleberries, but they are definitely on my list!
Lol! 😆 Thanks Charlie! 🍓
rich red yummy! gorgeously done Charlie.
and I must say your humour, is wonderful. “as I’m getting older, ……”
had me in stitches! LOL thank YOU!!
Awww thanks so much Debi! 😃💕 hehe… glad you liked this. Life sort of makes me giggle a lot so I don’t think I could write a completely serious post if I tried. 😊
thank goodness! we all, need more humour in our days. glad you are providing some in your witty writing !
I’m going to eat berries instead of cleaning. I’m so glad I did some cupboards back in January because I hate it too. I thought I’d pick one area every day to tackle. Hmm… Berries
Hehe… see? It’s a perfect scheme, Catherine… ditch the housework, enjoy some berries, and then you can blame in on your brain health! Lol
I love to eat berries of any kind I often add them in the salad or just eat them plain or I make powerful healthy shakes! I love your watercolor awesome job Charlie they looks real! Now I want to eat them! 😉 <3
Thanks so much Carolina! 😃💕 oooooo… I love a good berry smoothie! They’re really the perfect food. I think I’ll go in search of a smoothie today… sounds yummy!!
Yes! Berries smoothie are great try a combination of bananas + blackberries or a mix of berries+ Basil leafs and if you want add some coconut water…have an happy smoothie! 😉
My fav snack 😀 Great doodlewash.
Awww thanks Rebecca! Glad you liked this! 😃💕
Just add yogurt! That’s my breakfast every day (and good to know it’s cleaning out my brain…it could use it) (K)
Haha… I think your brain is functioning brilliantly based on your posts, Kerfe! 😃💕 Super smart… so those daily berries must be doing what they say!
I concur with all these berry lovin’ comments!
hehe… I’d be shocked if you weren’t also a berry lover, Cathe! Thanks! 😃💕
I have brain buddies and real Greek yogurt every day, topped with a few walnuts. Wish the berries at the grocery store always looked as scrumptious as the ones in your doodlewash. 🙂
Thanks Carol! 😃💕 Yay to brain buddies!! And I was reading that frozen berries can actually be healthier. Locks in nutrients and something about ice crystals breaking them down so we digest more of the good stuff faster. Blah… blah… too much science… got bored… went back to cute cat videos. 😊
I think we can scrap the Skittles tap and instead go for a berry tap – these doodlewashberries (admittedly, not as slip-off-the-tongue catchy as I was hoping) look far tastier, and I’m pretty sure it’d be safer! I want to go and pour some yoghurt over them all. Mmm! And a nice helping of The Wild Thornberrys for suitable accompaniment? Though, I wonder if that might compromise the benefits. 😉
Thanks Jacob! 😃Hehe…. yes! A berry tap would be the more sensible thing to do. Then when we overindulge it just means we’re getting smarter! Lol I guess if the yogurt is nonfat it’s okay… but all the fun starts leaving quickly and I’m back to Skittles!
Yep, I’d plump for berries over housework any day! Especially yours, they look good enough to eat 😊
Yeah… housework is overrated, it should be berries all the way! lol Thanks so much, Tori! 😃💕
Your berry painting is berry berry good. We love berries around here but if our granddaughter comes over, we have to stake our claim early. She’ll gobble every berry in sight without a smidgeon of regret for eating our share.
And she has an amazing brain. Yeah, berries beat about anything else. So good and so is your doodlewash.
Thanks so much Sharon! 😃💕Your granddaughter must have an incredible brain at this point after gobbling down everyone’s berries! hehe… though sharing is a valuable trait to learn as well of course. But with berries? That’s a tough one! Lol
So blueberry pie is healthy? Cool!
Yep!! Well…a part of it anyway! Lol So it all balances out. 😉
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! Glad you liked this!