Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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NHE
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Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Association of Strawberries and Anthocyanidin Intake with Alzheimer's Dementia Risk
Nutrients. 2019 Dec 14;11(12):3060.

Background: Strawberries have been identified to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that improve neuronal function and cognition, mostly in animal studies. It is unknown if the consumption of strawberries or related bioactives may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's dementia risk.

Material and methods: The study was conducted in 925 participants, aged 58-98 years of the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Participants were dementia-free at baseline, completed a food frequency questionnaire, and had at least two annual neurological evaluations. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia was based on structured clinical neurological examination and standardized diagnostic criteria. The association of strawberry intake and incident Alzheimer's dementia was analyzed using proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, education, physical activity, participation in cognitive activities, APOE-ɛ4 genotype, dietary intake of other fruits, and total calorie intake.

Results: A total of 245 participants developed Alzheimer's dementia over the mean follow-up of 6.7 (±3.6) years. Higher strawberry intake was associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's dementia (HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.96). In separate adjusted models, highest vs. lowest quartile intakes of Vitamin C (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92), Pelargonidin (0.63, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.92), total anthocyanidins (0.69, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.99), and total flavonoids (0.67, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.98) were each associated with lower Alzheimer's dementia risk. These associations remained after further adjustment for cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusion: Consumption of strawberries and foods rich in vitamin C, pelargonidin, anthocyanidins, and total flavonoids may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's dementia.

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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Unfortunately, modern strawberries should be avoided because they are loaded with high levels of pesticides.

Fortunately, there are other safer options to help with dementia including Omega 3 fatty acids. Also, a gluten free diet has been found to help as well.
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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ElliotB wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 3:28 am Unfortunately, modern strawberries should be avoided because they are loaded with high levels of pesticides.
The Environmental Working Group has a "dirty dozen" list of food items to choose organically grown over conventionally grown. They recommend organic strawberries. Here's their list.

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell & Hot Peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green Beans

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Unfortunately, organic produce in general is really not any healthier than traditional produce. By the way, organic does not mean pesticide free.

In any case, strawberries, even organic strawberries need to be avoided. UNLESS you grow them yourselves which can be done. It is not that hard to do. I have grown strawberries indoors using hydroponics.

Even organic strawberries are grown with dangerous pesticides. This is a pretty good article that details many of the issues:
https://revealnews.org/article/even-or ... esticides/
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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ElliotB wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:35 am Even organic strawberries are grown with dangerous pesticides. This is a pretty good article that details many of the issues:
https://revealnews.org/article/even-org ... esticides/
I read the article. It's focused on pretreatment of the soil prior to putting the strawberry plant starts in the ground. Moreover, the article states...

"Even if you do buy conventional strawberries, there’s no risk of ingesting fumigants. The soil is treated, not the fruit or plants themselves, so you won’t find leftover fumigants on your fruit. The risk with fumigants is to the farmworkers who apply them and the people who live nearby and might be exposed to drifting gas."

The article doesn't discuss anything that's being done to the plants once they've been put in the ground. It also doesn't discuss the differences in contaminant level between organically grown fruit and conventionally grown fruit.
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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This article is simply the tip of the iceberg. The information on this topic is readily available and abundant and clearly shows that strawberries, whether they are organic or not, are loaded with harmful pesticides. Organic is essentially a marketing 'gimmick'. Harmful pesticides are used with the growing of all organic foods. Nutritionally speaking, organic foods have not been proven to be all that different from those grown with conventional farming techniques.

Based on the research I have done in the past on Alzheimer's and dementia, these can be prevented possibly and treated to improve the outcome through diet, but I am convinced that strawberries are not the best choice and certainly not a choice I would entertain because of the high pesticide contamination issue.

But the issue is not limited to strawberries. Or fruits.

I enjoy strawberries very much but have not consumed any in many, many years because of the pesticide issue. I have been aware of this for a long time. If you know of anyone offering pesticide free strawberries, please share it with us.


Something to keep in mind is there are numerous somewhat effective ways to remove surface pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables, it is generally not possible to remove them from below the surface. And ultimately the effect on plants like strawberries that begin their growth with pesticides embedded in them is not known.
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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From EWG:

"Pesticides + poison gases = cheap, year-round strawberries"
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/strawberries.php
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Are you sure there are no differences between organic and conventional fruits/vegetables?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019963/
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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I did not say there was no difference. But in general, the difference is minimal if at all. There are exceptions of course, but when it comes to strawberries, there is no doubt they should be avoided And yes, based on the research I have done, the evidence is clear about strawberries.

Another big misconception about organic food people believe is that organic produce is free of pesticides. I did at first, years ago. But nothing could be further from the truth. Organic produce is still loaded up with pesticides, just not synthetic pesticides.

Keep in mind that ALL references to pesticides are referring to pesticide residue on the exterior of the produce. And fortunately, it is somewhat easy to remove pesticide residue from the exterior of produce. You can use salt to clean produce, baking soda, vinegar and even water alone (soaking and rinsing for long periods of time and refreshing the water periodically and of course you want to use filtered water) and there are other effective ways as well such as ozone which is what I use. I use an ozone generator and soak my produce in ozonated water for long periods of time and do multiple water changes during the procedure I follow.

BUT whether organic or conventional pesticide are use, it is virtually impossible to remove the pesticides from within the food itself, you can only remove pesticide residue from the exterior.
Last edited by ElliotB on Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Except the lower content in harmful substances, organic fruits and vegetables have much more vitamins and nutrients compared with conventional ones, there are plenty of researches that confirm it!
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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organic fruits and vegetables have much more vitamins and nutrients compared with conventional ones
You may be right, but there is ample evidence that this is not the case.

For best nutrition, and to avoid pesticides, you need to grow your fruits and vegetables on you own under controlled conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no reliable evidence showing that organically grown foods are more nutritious or safer to eat. In 2012, a review of data from 237 studies conducted at the Center for Health Policy at Stanford University concluded there were no convincing differences between organic and conventional foods in nutrient content or health benefit.

I wish it wasn't true, but based on the majority of research I have read, there is likely little or no difference, BUT there are healthier options for those who truly want better quality food. Premium foods are available if you look hard enough and are willing to pay the higher prices. You will not find these better-quality foods at your local supermarket.
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Re: Strawberries and Anthocyanidins Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

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Hi Elliot,
Eat whatever you wish. However, the peer reviewed study at the beginning of the topic has the data to show a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease with higher levels of strawberry consumption.

With respect to organic vs. conventional farming, the following studies demonstrate lower toxin levels in organically grown strawberries.

• This study found lower heavy metal content in organically grown strawberries.

Metals and micronutrients in some edible crops and their cultivation soils in eastern-central region of Tunisia: A comparison between organic and conventional farming
Food Chem. 2019 Jan 1:270:293-298.

"However, toxic metals loads significantly increased in crops from conventional agriculture."

• This paper found better pollination in organic strawberries leading to higher crop yields.

Organic farming improves pollination success in strawberries
PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31599.

• This paper found organically grown strawberries to have a higher nutrient concentration than conventionally grown strawberries.

Fruit and soil quality of organic and conventional strawberry agroecosystems
PLoS One. 2010 Sep 1;5(9):e12346.

"We found that the organic farms had strawberries with longer shelf life, greater dry matter, and higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds, but lower concentrations of phosphorus and potassium. In one variety, sensory panels judged organic strawberries to be sweeter and have better flavor, overall acceptance, and appearance than their conventional counterparts. We also found the organically farmed soils to have more total carbon and nitrogen, greater microbial biomass and activity, and higher concentrations of micronutrients. Organically farmed soils also exhibited greater numbers of endemic genes and greater functional gene abundance and diversity for several biogeochemical processes, such as nitrogen fixation and pesticide degradation."

• This paper found both greater vitamin C content as well as a higher antiproliferative effect on cancer cells in organically grown strawberries compared to those grown conventionally.

Antioxidant levels and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in vitro by extracts from organically and conventionally cultivated strawberries
J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 22;54(4):1248-55.

"The ratio of ascorbate to dehydroascorbate was significantly higher in the organically cultivated strawberries. The strawberry extracts decreased the proliferation of both HT29 cells and MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent way. The inhibitory effect for the highest concentration of the extracts was in the range of 41-63% (average 53%) inhibition compared to controls for the HT29 cells and 26-56% (average 43%) for MCF-7 cells. The extracts from organically grown strawberries had a higher antiproliferative activity for both cell types at the highest concentration than the conventionally grown, and this might indicate a higher content of secondary metabolites with anticarcinogenic properties in the organically grown strawberries."
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