According to a new study in the journal Nutrients, adults with better levels of vitamin K performed better on cognitive tests. So it is not just kids that need to eat their greens; adults should also focus on getting adequate amounts of Vitamin K in their diets.
Too little Vitamin K can lead to age related health issues including mobility, heart health and cognitive function. The nutrient helps with keeping bones and cartilage healthy, in addition to helping with blood clotting. Older people in a study were found to have a harder time being active with low levels of Vitamin K.
So how to make sure we get enough? “Focus on leafy greens,” says Geoffrey Barnes, a cardiologist at the University of Michigan Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor. “If it’s green, it probably has vitamin K in it and you should be eating these foods, but it has to be a consistent amount every day.”
Vegetables with high sources of vitamin K include collard greens, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach and asparagus. A spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends adding fat to the vegetable to get higher rates of absorption.
