Loss of memory, reduced concentration, difficulty in remembering names, forgetting things often, and decreased coordination of brain and limbs – is this happening to you or somebody you know? If yes, then it is high time you checked your green vegetable intake.
Benefits of eating green leafy vegetables
A recent study reveals that people who eat a minimum of one serving of leafy greens every day show a slower decrease in brainpower with age than people who hardly eat leafy greens.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are two degenerative diseases of the brain. They happen with age. However, the foundation of a sharp and healthy brain is laid in the younger years of life. It is not that when you reach the age of 60 then you will begin to eat leafy greens. No.
You must include the best leafy vegetables in your diet much earlier in life, say when you are in your 20s and 30s. And for those of you who are already 40+ and didn’t know the importance of leafy greens until now, worry not. It is never too late to eat a brain-healthy diet. Start from today.
A study published in Neurology journal shows the stunning difference between elderly people who consume leafy greens often and those who did not. The difference was equivalent to a whopping 11 years! So, people who ate leafy greens were 11 years younger in their brainpower than those who did not eat, in the same age group.
Examples of green leafy vegetables
Spinach (palak), kale, lettuce, collard greens, methi, bathua, radish leaves, and even cabbage and green stems of spring onions are all helpful in keeping your brain sharp and youthful.
Palak – one of the most widely used leafy greens in Indian household
Know how to cook healthy spinach recipes at home. Always make sure to wash palak leaves properly with warm water. You can also have palak juice or make some hot palak and tomato soup. There are so many recipes to prepare with leafy greens that you won’t feel bored eating them just as sabzi.
Tea made from methi
Do you know you can also drink methi tea prepared from its seeds? It not only improves your brainpower, but also helps in diabetes, heart health, and kidney functioning. But please do not consume this tea if you have high blood pressure.
Cabbage soup
Cabbage may not be a leafy green, but it is a leafy vegetable and carries many health benefits. If you are bored of eating too much cabbage sabzi, try instant cabbage soup at home.
The study says that people who ate leafy greens regularly showed a commendably slower decline rate in their thinking and memory power.
The year 2021 is declared the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables by the UN. There is a reason for it. Many people eat very less fruits and vegetables. Some don’t eat them daily. This is wrong. Try to increase daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, so that it becomes a habit. At the same time, make a habit to cook at least one leafy veggie either for lunch or for dinner. And if this is not possible, use a leafy green for breakfast.
