Environmental Nutrition: Vegetable intake may prevent frailty
Increasing vegetable intake during midlife is associated with lower likelihood of physical frailty in later life, according to a Chinese study. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, November 2024, says data from nearly 12,000 participants, with a mean age of 52 at the start of the study and 72 at follow-up, showed that compared to those with the lowest level of vegetable intake, those in the highest had reduced odds of frailty.
Intake of vegetables high in certain plant compounds, including beta carotene (e.g., orange, yellow, and leafy vegetables), lutein (e.g., leafy greens, broccoli, and asparagus), folate (e.g., dark leafy greens, avocado, beets), and isothiocyanates (e.g., Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale) may have accounted for the association, researchers say.
So head to the grocery store and stock up on your veggies!
(Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com.)
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