Vegetables make you sharper: study

by Kristin Darguzas (Subscribe to Kristin Darguzas's posts)
Oct 25th 2006 10:00AM

Categories: Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

Health fads come and go, it seems. One minute milk is good for your bones and teeth, the next moment it causes all kinds of allergies. Sometimes bread is good for you, sometimes it is glowered upon as a source of obesity and digestive problems. I've stopped paying attention, for the most part, because these studies are so subject to change. I'm just waiting for a study that says chocolate will keep my mind young and spry forever.

One message that hasn't changed, though, is the one that says vegetables are good for you. Nobody's ever said to stop eating your kale and brussel sprouts, although my palate sometimes wishes they would.

According to a new study, people who ate more than two servings of vegetables daily appeared about 5 years younger in terms of mental sharpness at the end of the study, than did those people who refused their veggies.

Green leafy vegetables seemed to be most beneficial in strengthening short term and long term memory. The study also noted that people who ate more veggies were more physically active.

That chocolate study is looking less and less likely. I may as well suck it up and steam myself some kale.

Source

Comments (29)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

pam 10-25-2006 @ 11:44AM

Hi,Kristen ! Chocolate DOES keep your mind young and spry forever. It just doesn't do the same for the rest of the body. ;o>

Pam

pam 10-25-2006 @ 11:38AM

BTW,that's chocolate only shortcoming. I love and embrace chocolate just as it is,daily.

Georgia Vaughngn 10-25-2006 @ 11:59AM

These articles on my screen which is one of the largest available are almost impossible to read. I have good eyesight, but they should be in darker ink than the blue color, as it receeds, and larger print, as they are smaller then my typing here. I just thought that you would appreciate my objective comment as there needs to be some correction made here. Thanks for reading this...

bryan p. furlong 10-28-2006 @ 6:43AM

-im not really sure about all the hype surrounding the actual benefits of leafy greens, however ive personally seen a surge in my mental capacity after a good weeks worth of dark greens, as part of a balanced meal. i found that i also have benefitted greatly from consuming vegetable juices such as v-8. im scientific about my body, and i enjoy trying out all the trends when it comes to nutrition. (with in reason of course) , and have benefitted by such actions. in 40 yrs old and i feel great. good luck to you all in your search for the adequate nutritional needs. its out there, -bon-appetit'

kay lee 10-28-2006 @ 7:38AM

To Georgia: Eat more veggies to improve your vision!

Romaine W. 10-28-2006 @ 7:39AM

I have oxalate kidney stones. Green,leafy vegetables are high in oxalates, so I have to watch their intake. I also had to cut back on tofu. The result is lower BP and less kidney stones etc. Still eat chocolate ...high in oxalates too. "Slugger"

Ruth 1-02-2007 @ 9:04AM

Hey Georgia, (Oct 26)

If you hold down your control button, then turn the wheel on your mouse, you can make the font for the screen bigger or smaller. It's not the site's fault, it is the fault of your computer set up! If you can't make this work, try cutting and pasting the article into an email, then change the font to bold, and make it as large as you need (I don't know if either of these options will work in Mac....) Good luck!!

Suz 10-29-2006 @ 3:37PM

Whay do you print these so small?? Come on guys, get a clue? The type isn't even complete. It skips!!!

mammy ford 10-31-2006 @ 11:33AM

chocolate is good for you..the darker the better....
read a recent study in one of my home magazines...either Family circle or Better home & gardens
enjoy!]

Jose 10-28-2006 @ 10:33AM

Wow Ruth.....great advice ! I had no idea.

Eldie 10-28-2006 @ 11:01AM

Hey Ruth, thanks for the computer lesson. I never knew about the "control key/scroll" trick. Thanks again for sharing!!!

Dennis L 10-28-2006 @ 10:40AM

Thank you Ruth for the info about making the font larger. I didn't know about that one and it's wonderful. Thanks again!

Tis 10-28-2006 @ 10:45AM

Latest research shows chocolate IS a vegetable. Can't remember where I read that.

Steve Matthews 10-28-2006 @ 11:21AM

Maybe chocolate isn't the best thing for you, but it sure improves my attitude

fred 10-28-2006 @ 2:14PM

Chocolate is from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, so chocolate is a vegetable.

Trish 10-28-2006 @ 11:17AM

Thanks for the info on making the print larger. I never knew that and I was having the same problem as Georgia.
This is great, I can actually read all the words.
thanks again.
Trish

Ann Ponzi 10-28-2006 @ 4:42PM

In the late seventies and eighties, I began to obsessively read about nutrition. Throughout nursing school, marriage, and 3 babies, I was a vegetarian. This was not popular then, and people were shocked that I was "malnourishing" myself and my prenate. I was a daily jogger, 2 to 3 meals a day of lucious green salads and soups. No, I did not deprive my husband ( who also thought I was not getting all the nutrients I needed). He always got his helping of meat for dinner. Before my time somewhat, but I could give you an extended list of how I feel this diet was beneficial. Let the animals graze and enjoy natural fruits and vegetables. Always eat whole grains. My last comment is that I have never had a weight problem, through many stressful situations, 6 years of college. 3 children, menapause. The reason is obvious.

Martha 10-28-2006 @ 11:36AM

I read that cafeine will make you more alert and can keep you from having Alzheimer's.

Chocolate has cafeine. And it comes from a bean.....therefore, it must be a vegetable. And it must be good for you!

Works for me!