Becoming More Forgetful? Neuroscience Says Eat These Foods To Fuel Your Brain and Improve Memory
People who ate these foods regularly were at less risk of cognitive decline.
You have heard the importance of eating your fruits and vegetables more times than you can count.
Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they are the key to preventing many chronic diseases.
Although we know they are good for us, they can still be a challenge for many people to eat.
If you need any other excuse to prioritize the colors on your plate, there’s a new study out for you.
According to a recent study published in Neurology, eating fruits and veggies can help stave off memory deficits as we age.
How? Researchers say it’s in the antioxidants.
Antioxidants are compounds that help to fight off damaging free radicals. These are molecules that cause inflammation in the body. They are associated with conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and veggies.
Researchers say they can help to slow the rate of memory decline as we age by reducing inflammation.
Studies such as this are important due to the continuous rise of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Study
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago studied 961 participants for 7 years.
Participants were an average age of 81 and none were diagnosed with dementia at the start of the study.
Each year participants completed a questionnaire assessing their diet and lifestyle. They were also given annual cognitive tests.
Researchers assessed cognitive decline using a cognition score. It ranged from 0.5 (no impairment) to 0.2 (mild impairment) to -0.5 (Alzheimer’s dementia).
Participants who consumed the highest amounts of the antioxidant, flavonol, had a slower decline rate of 0.4 units per decade.
What Does This Mean?
This suggests that something as simple as eating more fruits and veggies can help to reduce the risk of cognitive impairments as we age.
Researchers used flavonol due to its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They believe these properties are what helped to slow the rate of cognitive decline.
They also determined the fruits and veggies that contained the highest amounts of flavonols. These included apples, broccoli, kale, oranges, pears, spinach, and tomatoes.
Although these contain high amounts of flavonols, all fruits and vegetables have antioxidants. Thus, it’s encouraged to consume a variety of fruits and veggies in your diet.
Bottom Line
Not that we needed one, but researchers have found yet another reason we should be eating more plants. The health of our brain depends on it.
A recent study found that consuming an antioxidant-rich diet can stave off cognitive impairment.
The study used flavonol-rich foods, but all fruits and veggies contain antioxidants.
So next time you’re making your plate, be sure to layer on those colorful product items. Your brain will thank you.