The latest research has found that just one serving of leafy greens a day can take more than a decade (11 years) off an aging brain, in terms of decreased brain power; and two servings a day can have even greater results. What does this mean exactly? Our memory and brain function typically decline as we age; but we can take actions that allow us to not only stop memory loss, but also reverse it. One such action is eating our daily serving of greens.
In the past I’ve talked about the importance of G-B-O-M-B-S, the acronym used to discuss the daily foods one should eat to be healthy. It stands for Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds/Nuts. That “G” just got upgraded to first class. Realistically the brain is one of our most prized organs, and if there is any nutrition out there that can minimize damage and promote improvement, it has to be talked about.
The strongest association with slowing down our aging decline in the brain is consumption of spinach, kale, collard greens, and lettuce varieties. Does it really matter if it is the vitamin K1, betacarotene, phylloquinone, lutein, nitrate, folate, kaempferol or alpha tocopherol? Most people don’t care as long as we are getting the benefits of consuming the greens in our meals or our smoothies (or both)! Remember that the Environmental Working Group states that spinach, kale, and celery made the dirty dozen list in 2019 and should be purchased organic.
For those actively trying to improve brain function, nutritional supplements can have a big impact, especially in terms of curcumin, a quality omega 3 (fish oil, flax meal), B vitamin supplements, and co-enzyme Q10. For more information, seek out a health professional to help you work your best strategy to improve you. Yes, you can!
Resources
2018, January 16; Barnes, LL; Bennett, DA; Booth, SL; Dawson-Hughes, B; Morris, MC; Wang, Y.; Neurology 90(3); Nutrients and Bioactives in Green Leafy Vegetables and Cognitive Decline.
