Did you know that consuming just a daily serving of any type of leafy green may help slow the process of age associated cognitive decline? Eat your vegetables.
Having traveled quite extensively I was blessed to spend a significant amount of time in places where organic nutrient rich vegetables are still the norm and I loved it.
Some of the best brain foods include green leafy vegetables like kale, collards, spinach, chard, turnip greens, bok choy, and broccoli rabe.
Knowing that Alzheimer’s has affected many family members on my father’s side I became very interested in consuming large amounts of brain food. I even ventured to learn how to grow my own organic produce at home year round. What a delight it would be to have a constant fresh supply to consume at every meal.
Target Age Associated Cognitive Decline with Organic Vegetables
A great source of vitamin B is green leafy vegetables. Three B vitamins in particular, folic acid, B6 and B12, are essential brain vitamins. Research has found that these three vitamins work synergistically to reduce brain atrophy, improve brain function, and dramatically reduce brain shrinkage in the part of the brain most affected by Alzheimer’s.
Green veggies are also a good source of the amino acid l-tyrosine, which can improve your mood and increase your ability to solve problems, remember and learn.
Tyrosine is needed to form the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with drive, alertness and motivation. Greens are an excellent source of the often forgotten vitamin K, which holds some promise for treating Alzheimer’s.
Other excellent brain vegetables include:
- Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. These contain antioxidants, brain-protecting carotenoids, and sulforaphane, a sulphur-based phytonutrient that can heal brain inflammation.
- Peppers of all kinds, both hot and bell peppers are high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and phytonutrients such as beta-carotene and capsaicin, which improves circulation to the brain.
- Root vegetables such as potatoes, yams, carrots, and beets are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates that are good at supplying your brain with a steady stream of energy, Root vegetables give your brain the steady supply of glucose it needs.
To learn more about brain food read “Brain Food: Eating for Brain Health” by Deane Alban.
How to Grow Organic Produce
After taking a two-week permaculture design course in Costa Rica, spending a month on an organic farm in Thailand and having had an outdoor garden in the past I thought it would be easy to grow organic produce at home year round. Turns out I was wrong and the system I designed was not very reliable.
Recently I discovered the Tower Garden by Juice Plus. Here I found a solution and can’t wait to get one of my own.
Over a period of two days I had the opportunity to see two units full of fresh organic produce ready to pick and eat. It looked so simple. Why hadn’t I thought of this design? I suppose I could attempt to reverse engineer the design although after a quick analysis of time and material I determined the cost was actually quite reasonable.
Learn more at Tower Garden.
Tower Garden® is a state-of-the-art vertical aeroponic growing system. It’s perfect for rooftops, patios, balconies, terraces and indoors. Just about any relatively sunny place outside or indoors will do.
Things you can grow include vegetables, herbs, flowers and many fruits. With the Tower Garden you can grow them in less time and generate up to 30% more product compared to traditional soil gardening.
Take better care of your and your family’s health by growing nutritious, great-tasting vegetables and fruits at home. It’s smart both environmentally and economically. You don’t need any gardening experience to use Tower Garden.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is good for your health and the Tower Garden, or something similar, helps you eat more fruits and vegetables by letting you grow delicious vine-ripened produce at home.
Grow almost anything you like, including tomatoes, lettuce, basil, peppers, spinach, beans, cucumbers, melons, and herbs. Increase your children’s or aging loved ones interest in eating fresh fruits and vegetables by involving them in gardening.
I hope some day we all have vertical gardens like this at home. The benefits not only include our health, they also have a positive impact on the environment.
I hope you have found this information useful. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
May you enjoy peace, love and happiness.