Many people are concerned about Alzheimer’s dementia and are looking for strategies to avoid this degenerative process.
It is reported that fish and coconut oil prevent brain decline …….but are these really active and worth eating on a regular basis? Or will the mercury and pollutants in fish and the saturated fat in coconut oil kill you first?
New data indicates that the humble leafy greens are the foods to concentrate on
We all know that greens are healthy and some of the nutrients in them already have excellent scientific evidence, such as vitamin E, a potent antioxidant which has been demonstrated in carefully controlled animal models to protect against neuron loss, oxidative stress and inflammation, and the accumulation of amyloid plaques.
Other nutrients are newly identified to relate to better brain health, like nitrates and vitamin K.
Daily consumption of leafy greens may be a simple and effective way to protect against loss in memory and other cognitive abilities”.
Researchers from the Memory and Aging Project followed 960 participants over 5 years who had 2 cognitive assessments and also had a food frequency questionnaire completed. In a model assessing diet, age, sex, education, alcohol, activity, cognitive exercises, the consumption of green leafy vegetables was associated with slower cognitive decline.
Cognitive decline in those who ate the most servings of green leafy vegetables (1.3 servings per day versus the lowest group at 0.1 serving per day) was slowed. If you were wondering, one half cup of cooked spinach was counted as a serving.
The greens eaters showed brain ages 11 years younger than those who ate the least greens!
Certain nutrients in greens in particular, like folate, lutein, vitamin E, nitrates, and B-carotene, were related to better brain power.
Ref Joel Kahn
Professor of Cardiology, Summa cum Laude grad, Kahn Center for Longevity and GreenSpace Cafe.
Author The Plant Based Solution NEW
Rachel Law is a personal fitness trainer based in New Malden, Surrey. Qualifications: ActivIQ Level 3 Personal Training; Burrell Education Pregnancy Exercise Prescription; Burrell Education Advanced Pregnancy Wellness Practitioner; Burrell Education Advanced Post Natal Exercise Prescription; Burrell Education 3rd Age Women Optimal Health and Nutrition; Burrell Education Peri Natal Athlete; Burrell Education Pelvic Flow and Freedom; Olympic Weight Lifting; Premier Global Kettlebells; FIE Level Assessment and Mentoring