A new study suggests that a diet rich in flavonoids could be the key to keeping a strong body and a lively spirit as they age.
• Read also: 10 foods that help us keep morale this winter
• Read also: The benefits of small fruit for health
• Read also: Berry and red wine against Parkinson’s disease
The study, conducted by American, Australian and Irish public health teachers, followed 62,743 women and 23,687 men over 24 years old.
Researchers have found that women with the highest contribution in flavonoids had a 15 % lower risk of vulnerability, a 12 % lower risk alteration of the physique and a 12 % lower risk of poor mental health in comparison.
Even if the results were not so pronounced in men, a higher contribution in flavonoids was nevertheless linked to better mental health.
What are flavonoids?
Flavonoids are plant pigments, natural substances from the family of polyphenols present in fruits, vegetables and other plants.
They are responsible for the coloring of flowers and fruits, according to French magazine Science et Vie.
-According to the Cleveland clinic, they have been associated with a series of health benefits, including the reduction in brain inflammation, support for the health of blood vessels and even the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass.
In which foods are they present?
Fill up on berries, apples, grapes, cherries and citrus.
Aside from the fruits, here are foods that contain a good dose of flavonoids:
- Red onions
- Kale
- Celery
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Military
- Thé
- Red wine
- Dark chocolate.
According to one of the authors of the study, Dr. Eric Rimm, these results prove the potential of simple food modifications to have an impact on the overall quality of life.
Previous research on the subject has already shown that people who consume more flavonoids tend to live longer. They were also less likely to contract one of the main chronic diseases such as dementia, diabetes or heart disease.
Now, new research reveals that people who consume more flavonoids tend to age better, according to the conclusions of the study.
What is the recipe to follow?
Participants who have increased their consumption of foods rich in flavonoids of three portions per day presented a risk of 6 to 11 % lower in women, and a risk of 15 % lower mental health in men.
The authors of the study noted that the stronger associations observed in women could be due to differences in monitoring deadlines, rather than real specific effects for sex, which, according to them, are under-explore themes.
