If You Want to Keep Your Brain Healthy, You Need This Nutrient
By Dr. Joseph Mercola

Older people who eat food containing high amounts of folate, which is found in many leafy green vegetables and fruits, can cut their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by more than half. This may eventually lead to a means of keeping Alzheimer's at bay. Right now, there is no preventive therapy for the neurological disease.

Ten-Year Study:

A 10-year study showed that people who consume at least 400 micrograms of folate a day (the recommended daily allowance of the vitamin) experienced a 55 percent lower risk of developing the disease.

Folate reduces blood levels of homocysteine, a substance that can injure brain cells. Foods rich in folate include oranges, broccoli, spinach and bananas.

Alzheimer's Association August 12, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I first noted the importance of eating whole foods with high amounts of folate to prevent Alzheimer's disease five years ago. This new study is yet more evidence of this. Green leafy vegetables, strawberries, liver, kidney, nuts and other folate-rich foods can all help keep the nerve cells of your brain from being damaged.

The results of this study mirror the findings of one I posted last month about high amounts of folic acid slowing the cognitive decline that comes with aging.

Fresh vegetables, especially dark green, leafy ones, and strawberries are some of your best natural sources of folic acid. Eating plenty of fresh, uncooked vegetables is the natural way to ensure you are receiving an ideal daily dose of folic acid (and hundreds of other known and unknown nutrients).

However, it's also important to understand that we all require different amounts of vegetables to stay healthy. Some people need to consume as much as 300 percent more vegetables than others. The amount of vegetables your body requires depends on your body's specific metabolic type. While we all need vegetables to stay healthy, your metabolic type should determine the type and amount.

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Dr. Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com, one of the world's most visited and trusted health websites, and publisher of the free Mercola.com e-newsletter -- the #1 dietary health and wellness newsletter on the Web with over 500,000 subscribers. Dr. Mercola, a physician for over two decades, is also a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book, "Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program," presents his entire renowned dietary health program and has sold over 150,000 copies. He is routinely interviewed by the media for his expert insights, including CNN and ABC World News Tonight. His passion is to change the fatally flawed conventional medical system to one focused on real prevention and cure.

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