YEP.
If you understand the role that vitamins and minerals play in your body via chemistry, this wouldn’t be a surprise to you. But lets chat more about the title of this post in a more digestible way.
A large-scale study led by researchers at Columbia and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard is the first to establish that a diet low in flavanols—nutrients found in certain fruits and vegetables—drives age-related memory loss.
We already know that a young developing brain needs essential nutrients in order to develop properly. Similarly, an aging brain needs nutrients to slow down the rate of aging/deterioration.
If haven’t heard by now, the hippocampus is an important part of the brain that controls learning and memory. This study found that the area in the hippocampus known as, dentate gyrus, improved in function if it was provided adequate nutrients found in flavanols. These flavanols have been proven in the past to enhance hippocampal-dependent memory by increasing synaptic and blood vessel density in a subregion of the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus. By improving the communication between neurons and providing greater blood supply to the brain, we can maintain a healthy brain that retains memories and learns information adequately. The article discusses a host of other potential reasons for improvement but i won’t bore you.
One thing to note is that this massive study only saw improvements in individuals who weren’t eating enough nutrients to begin with. The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) uses a scoring system and data to determine how well the average American is able to achieve a diet that provides enough nutrients for their overall health and wellbeing. Sadly, the average diets of Americans do not align with the dietary recommendations and fall short.
Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death. Every 3 seconds someone is diagnoses with dementia and women are more likely to develop this illness than men.
If we deprive a plant of water, it wilts. If we water our plants, they blossom and thrive for as long as they can. If we deprive a brain of nutrients, it will decay. If we feed our brain the nutrients it needs, it greatly improves its ability to thrive as well. Imagine how much more fruitful our lives can be with a thriving brain. Our brains are the thing that allow us to experience life. How bizarre it is to be neglecting such an organ.
Do you need to start juicing or using greens powders? No, in fact, I would advise against them. The best thing you can do is eat real food. Extracting juices and using powders will never compare to the abundance and quantity of nutrients you will find in fresh, whole plant foods.
Eat well, sleep enough and stay moving.