Greens keep you sharper

Data from over 3,700 people studied over six years in the Chicago Health and Aging Project suggests that people who eat more vegetables suffer less cognitive decline as they age.

The decrease in the rate of cognitive decline in people who ate more than two vegetable serves a day, compared to those eating on average 0.9 serves, was equivalent to about five years younger in age.

The strongest association was with leafy green vegetables. Researchers hypothesised that this may be due to their high content of vitamin E and the fact that salad greens are often eaten with a dressing, which would enhance absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin and other fat-soluble antioxidants.

Source: Neurology, 24 October 2006