Leafy greens keep elderly sharp


It has been previously reported that nutrients such as vitamin K, lutein, folate and beta carotene (among others) have been shown to slow the cognitive decline typical of aging and now a group from Rush University Medical Center has set out to prove just that in a recent study. Subjects enrolled in the Memory and Aging Project, whose average age was 81 years, reported their daily food and beverage intake for an average of five years. Throughout this time frame, subjects were assessed for changes in their cognitive abilities and skills. After adjusting for variables, researchers found that those people who consumed greater amounts of green leafy vegetables experienced a decrease in the rate of cognitive decline, as compared to those who ate few or no leafy green vegetables. Simply put, one or two servings of green leafy vegetables a day allowed these subjects to maintain the cognitive abilities of someone 11 years younger. Source: idahostatejournal.com. Leafy greens keep elderly sharp