Author: Luke Sholl
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With over a decade of experience writing about CBD and cannabinoids, Luke is an established journalist working as the lead writer for Cibdol and other cannabinoid publications. Committed to presenting factual, evidence-based content, his fascination with CBD also extends to fitness, nutrition, and disease prevention.
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Aronia Berries: What You Need to Know

Aronia berry

Harnessing potent antioxidants from the aronia berry, Brainberry® has busy professionals, academics, and gamers in mind. With several potential enhancements to focus, psychomotor speed, and concentration, below is a breakdown of exactly what you need to know about this cognitive supplement.

What are aronia berries?

Before we dive into the cognitive enhancing abilities of Brainberry®, we need to understand a little about the supplement's key ingredient—extract from the Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) plant. Aronia berries (also called chokeberries) come from shrubs belonging to the Rosaceae family. Natively, Aronia shrubs thrive in North America, although they have since spread to parts of Europe.

However, it isn't the plant's environmental adaptability that impresses users, but the abundance of antioxidants inside its berries.[1] In fact, aronia berries are believed to be one of the richest sources of plant antioxidants—potent compounds that protect cells from damaging free radicals. Beyond that, though, the antioxidants inside aronia berries—cyanidins—may help to boost cognitive performance by diffusing through the blood–brain barrier.

What is Brainberry®?

Typically, to enjoy the vast influence of aronia berries, you need to consume them raw or in juices, jams, syrups, and wines. However, BioActor BV harnessed the most active cyanidin (3-O-galactoside) to create an extract that capitalises on the compound's cognitive influence. Recent studies suggest that 3-O-galactoside diffuses through the blood–brain barrier to influence factors such as psychomotor speed, concentration, accuracy, and cognitive flexibility.[2]

Benefits of Brainberry®

The main goal of Brainberry® is to improve brain fitness among people of all ages. With that in mind, BioActor BV clinically tested the actions of cyanidin 3-O-galactoside in amateur female and male gamers to establish the full extent of its cognitive enhancing abilities.

Psychomotor speed

A good example of psychomotor speed in practice is a memory game that requires memorising symbols before picking the correct symbol (using a specific hand) in the shortest time possible.

In Brainberry® study one, the results showed that "after 6 weeks of daily supplementation, psychomotor speed of the dominant hand improved from the baseline by 5.8%". In this specific example, participants were asked to take part in a grooved pegboard test that requires "complex visual-motor coordination". In Brainberry® study two, similar improvements were seen in "movement time compared to control".

Focus

Whether at work, home, or as part of a hobby, focusing on a task is about giving that activity 100% of your mental effort. Focus forms an integral part of our cognitive performance, and our brain's ability to adapt to mentally challenging situations. However, many people struggle to maintain focus, especially in a world littered with notifications, emails, and social media platforms.

In Brainberry® study one, researchers noted a 43% improvement in healthy participants' concentration (and accuracy) versus the baseline. And although the researchers didn't test focus in the second study, the trial did outline that after seven days of supplementation, the "Multitasking Test (memory) showed an improvement".

Brainberry® for gaming

The tests outlined above indicate how Brainberry® could improve gaming performance in both groups of female and male participants. After all, gaming represents a significant mental challenge, and is an industry experiencing continued market growth.[3]

When you combine the factors of both clinical studies, it's clear that improvements in psychomotor speed, concentration, multitasking ability, and memory function offer an advantage for gamers. These results highlight the broad influence of cyanidin 3-O-galactoside found inside aronia berries, without the stimulant-like side effects of many traditional cognitive enhancers.

Dosing Brainberry®

The recommended daily dose for Brainberry® is 65mg; a mild dose compared to many traditional cognitive enhancers. In both clinical trials, results were measured over a 7-day and 6–12-week period to establish the long-term impact of regular consumption.

Encouragingly, some improvements were noted in as little as seven days, with further enhancements for up to twelve weeks. The milder dosing regime lends itself to daily consumption, and the all-natural ingredients support many of the brain's functions without appearing to overload them.

Side effects of Brainberry®

You'd be right to be cautious about the impact of cognitive performance enhancers, as many of them rely on stimulants to improve focus and concentration. However, because Brainberry® harnesses the natural compounds found inside Aronia melanocarpa, no significant side effects were noted. The lack of stimulant-related side-effects also makes Brainberry® ideal for regular consumption.

Brainberry® appears to take the best parts of the aronia berry to provide brain health benefits to people of all ages. Combined with the lack of notable side effects, and potential improvements to cognitive performance for up to twelve weeks, the supplement looks set to become a worthwhile addition to many gamers’ arsenal.

Explore a diverse range of focus-enhancing supplements by visiting the Cibdol store. Or, to learn more about the potential of plant-based antioxidants, head over to our CBD Encyclopedia for everything you need to know.

Sources

[1] P; JLSMK. The influence of interactions among phenolic compounds on the antiradical activity of chokeberries (aronia melanocarpa). International journal of food sciences and nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21214419/. Published 2011. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

[2] Brainberry® is an innovative Aronia Berry extract. BioActor. https://bioactor.com/products/brainberry/. Published April 21, 2022. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

[3] Video Game Market Size, Share | Industry Report, 2020-2027. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/video-game-market. Published 2020. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

Sources

[1] P; JLSMK. The influence of interactions among phenolic compounds on the antiradical activity of chokeberries (aronia melanocarpa). International journal of food sciences and nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21214419/. Published 2011. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

[2] Brainberry® is an innovative Aronia Berry extract. BioActor. https://bioactor.com/products/brainberry/. Published April 21, 2022. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

[3] Video Game Market Size, Share | Industry Report, 2020-2027. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/video-game-market. Published 2020. Accessed April 26, 2022. [Source]

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