For a healthy brain, veg out — on salad

For a healthy brain, veg out — on salad


Many of us heard early on from mom that we should eat our veggies, but rarely did mom say WHY we needed to eat them, beyond telling us that they are “good for you.” Now mom might have another reason to push you to eat those greens on your plate.

A recent study published in the journal Neurology suggests that a salad a day might help keep dementia at bay.

The researchers asked 960 people ages 58 to 99 to jot down what they ate over the course of almost five years. They also performed two or more cognitive tests on the participants, examining memory, spatial abilities and perceptual speed. They found that even after controlling for smoking, alcohol consumption, and cognitive and physical activities, people who ate the most leafy green vegetables were the equivalent of 11 years younger in terms of their cognitive age than people who consumed the fewest leafy greens.

The scientists suggest that high levels of essential nutrients found in vegetables — such as lettuce, spinach, kale and collard greens, including lutein, vitamin K, nitrate and folate, among others — may contribute to the effect. While the nutrients are important, the researchers say it’s unlikely that supplements would have the same influence because of the complex interactions within the green vegetables themselves.

The study relied on observation and self-reporting of diets, which means the cause and effect are not certain. Still, the evidence suggests that mom continues to be right when she tells you to eat your greens. Pile them high on your plate, dig in and enjoy the health benefits — including, possibly, sharper thinking.

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