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Eating plenty of grapefruits, carrots and peppers can lower your risk of mental decline by over a third, new research suggests.
A study has found people who eat a diet that includes at least half a serving per day of food high in flavonoids may have a lower risk of cognitive decline.
Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plants and are considered powerful antioxidants, and are present in the likes of strawberries, celery and apples.
Harvard University researchers looked at nearly 50,000 men and women over 20 years.
Participants completed questionnaires about how often they ate various foods, and were asked questions about their cognitive ability.
Results, published in the journal Neurology, found people who consumed more flavonoids in their diets reported a lower risk of cognitive decline.
A study has found people who eat a diet that includes at least half a serving per day of foods high in flavonoids — such as grapefruit — may have a lower risk of cognitive decline
Flavones, found in some spices and yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, had the strongest protective qualities and were associated with a 38 per cent reduction in risk of cognitive decline - the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age.
Anthocyanins, found in blueberries, blackberries and cherries, were associated with a 24 per cent reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Dr Walter Willett, the study’s author, said: ‘There is mounting evidence suggesting flavonoids are powerhouses when it comes to preventing your thinking skills from declining as you get older.
‘Our results are exciting because they show that making
