avocado, olives, and cacao (no, this does not mean that
chocolate is a fruit—but dark chocolate does have a myriad
of brain benefits and is one of our Genius Foods). Berries
are also great because not only are they low in fructose but
they are particularly high in certain antioxidants shown to
have a memory-boosting and anti-aging effect. The Nurses’
Health Study, a long-running dietary survey of 120,000
female nurses, found that those who ate the most berries had
brains that looked 2.5 years younger on scans.^31 In fact,
while a recent analysis of the literature found no association
between overall fruit intake and reduced dementia risk,
berry consumption was the sole exception.^32 Berry nice!
A Call to Action
Every year, billions of dollars are spent to market junk foods
to the American people. But more than simply buying ad
space in magazines or on TV, these juggernaut companies
regularly fund studies to downplay the role of junk food in
the public obesity crisis. The New York Times recently
exposed scientists involved in a leading soda giant’s
initiative to shift the focus in the global obesity and type 2
diabetes epidemics from diet to laziness and lack of
exercise.^33 An executive of the group was quoted as saying:
Most of the focus in the popular media and in the
scientific press is, “Oh they’re eating too much, eating
too much, eating too much”—blaming fast food,
blaming sugary drinks and so on. And there’s really