To Your Health
September, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 09) |
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The Power of Flavonoids
By Editorial Staff
Dementia – reduced cognitive functioning, such as thinking clearly, remembering things, and reasoning – is more common with age, but it is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is characterized by reduced cognitive functioning that interferes with daily life beyond what might be associated with age. In other words, it's something you want to avoid if at all possible.
One way to reduce your dementia risk: eat plenty of foods high in flavonoids – plant compounds present in tea, wine, leafy vegetables, onions, apples, berries, cherries, soybeans, and citrus fruits, among other sources. Research suggests a daily diet high in flavonoids lowers the risk of dementia among adults ages 40-70 (when the study started).
The study was large, involving more than 121,000 participants. Compared with consuming the lowest amount of flavonoid-rich foods, consuming six additional daily serving lowered dementia risk significantly, even for people with other risk factors for dementia, such as genetic predisposition or depression. The most significant risk reductions appeared to be associated with consuming tea, followed by red wine and berries.
Keep in mind that plant foods in general, and flavonoid-rich foods in particular, have been shown to exert numerous other health benefits, including cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. The lesson: tap into the power of flavonoids! In this case, your body and mind will thank you for it.
