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Do some foods have special powers? Yes, according to Vegetarian Times writer Mark Harris. In the magazine's January 2005 issue, Harris names blueberries, spinach, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, soy and oats as the seven superfoods that are "able to improve our health and extend our lives."

Thanks to their powerful health benefits - and their super-low calorie counts - these seven foods can help add years to your life and subtract pounds. In fact, says Harris, just rotating one "superfoods" dish into your daily diet will make a dramatic difference. Harris explores the science behind the health benefits of this elite group in his article entitled, "Diet 2005: The 7 Superfoods."

Blueberries, says Harris, are memory boosters. In laboratory studies conducted by researcher James Joseph, Ph.D., older rats fed a diet of blueberries not only navigated mazes faster, they also had better balance and coordination - skills regulated by the brain. The research continues in an effort to determine whether blueberries increase human brainpower.

Citing USDA studies that rank blueberries number one in antioxidants, Harris points to their high concentration of anthocyanins - potent antioxidants "that increase communication between aging brain cells, and fend off free radicals." New USDA research also suggests that a compound in blueberries may reduce cholesterol. The compound, pterostilbene, also protects the heart much like resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grapes and red wines. Other benefits of blueberries include prevention of urinary tract infections.

Tip: "Go Wild. The USDA says blueberries from the great outdoors have twice the antioxidant power of their cultivated cousins." Mark Harris, Vegetarian Times, 2005

How many blueberries should you eat? Harris suggests following the lead of researcher Dr. Joseph who "downs one cup of blueberries daily."

To help readers improve their diets, Vegetarian Times included a number of recipes using the seven superfoods. "Heart-and-Mind-Protecting" Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins, and "Memory-Maintaining" Blueberry-Orange Smoothies, made with fresh or frozen blueberries, were two recipes for getting the brain-boosting power of blueberries into your daily diet.