WATER leaf may be a helpful addition to the diets of those who want to improve their memory. Researchers examined the effects of water leaf consumption on memory and brain health and found that its consumption can potentially help with symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgement and other thought processes.
They found that its water extracts contain substances that can be helpful for the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia that is characterised by a slow decline in memory, problem-solving ability, learning ability, and judgement.
This 2024 study offered valuable insights into radical scavenging and potential of water leaf to boost memory, thereby providing a premise for drug development useful in the management of Alzheimer’s disease.
Through computer-aided methods, the researchers in the study, published in the BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, found that the water extract of this green leafy vegetable increased certain brain chemicals required in thinking, learning, and memory as well as protecting brain cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer disease.
The therapeutic approaches that involve the inhibition of cholinesterase and the proliferation of oxidative stress resulting from the proliferation of free radicals have been reported as crucial measures in the management of AD.
Several AChE inhibitors, including rivastigmine, galantamine, donepezil, and memantine, among others, are readily available and in use for clinical attention in AD conditions. These chemotherapeutic agents are symptomatic and provide temporary relief from AD by elevating the Ach level in the brain. Ach is a neurotransmitter pivotal for the cognitive and mental functions of the brain.
Recently, constituents of plants have been widely exploited for their varied range of biological interactions and activities. These compounds possess the ability to scavenge and inhibit the production of reactive species.
Waterleaf is commonly used in the preparation of soups and other culinary delicacies. The consumption of these soft, succulent, and highly nutritious leaves has been linked to reducing total plasma cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and increasing HDL-cholesterol, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, waterleaf contributes to well-being by managing cardiovascular diseases like stroke, improving growth, and enhancing the immune system in both humans and animals due to its constituents.
Traditional medicine practitioners often use water leaf to treat ailments such as gastrointestinal disorders, malaria, and high blood pressure.
Recently, researchers in the Neurological Sciences and Neurophysiology reported that waterleaf consumption has benefiting effects on the cells of the brain and it may probably enhance the cognitive ability in Swiss albino mice. It inhibited oxidative stress, thus preventing injury to brain cells.
Likewise, another study showed that eating more salads with leafy greens like spinach can save memory. The study found that participants who regularly ate about 1.3 servings of leafy greens a day showed cognitive abilities of people 11 years younger.
In a recent study, researchers at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago found that eating one serving (1/2 cup cooked or one cup raw) of green leafy vegetables a day may significantly reduce memory loss and better preserve cognitive function.
Importantly, they describe green leafy vegetables as sources of lutein, which reduces inflammation on the brain, and folate, which inhibits amyloid beta levels in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, another group of researchers that examined the effects of nut consumption on memory and brain health said this is important to boost memory because it benefits blood flow in the brain and verbal memory in older adults.
The study published in Clinical Nutrition found that consuming 60 grammes of mixed nuts per day increases verbal memory and blood flow in the brain due to its many nutrients, including unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and polyphenols.
For the study, the researchers recruited 28 healthy individuals at an average age of 65 years and an average body mass index (BMI) of 27.9. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
The participants were randomised into two groups and assigned one of two diet plans for 16 weeks. One group consumed 60 grammes of walnuts, pistachios, cashews, and hazelnuts per day, while the other group consumed no nuts. The groups switched nut consumption protocols after an 8-week washout period.
According to them, daily nut consumption, particularly walnuts and cashew, increased blood flow in various brain areas, including the left frontal lobe, the bilateral prefrontal cortex, and the frontal lobe. Also, nut consumption improves blood flow to the brain cells.
After consuming nuts, participants remember 16% more words in a verbal memory task. It, however, provided no difference in other areas, including executive function, stress, and quality of life.
Walnuts, which fittingly resemble little brains, are considered one of the best nuts for brain health for several reasons. Apart from being the only nuts to contain a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts boast the highest content of antioxidants, as well as the highest potency, or quality, of antioxidants relative to other common nuts.
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