Five years ago, I told you about the importance of eating whole foods with high amounts of folate – a nutrient found in green leafy vegetables, strawberries, liver, kidney, whole grains and nuts – to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Seems older folks who ate larger amounts of folate – at least 400 mgs a day -- cut their risk of Alzheimer's disease by more than half.

Researchers collected dietary information on some 600 patients older than age 59 with no Alzheimer's symptoms. Patients documented their intake of food and any vitamin supplements containing folic acid over a typical week. During a decade-long monitoring period, only 10 percent of patients (57) developed Alzheimer's.

However, those who ate 400 mgs daily – the recommended daily allowance of folate – lowered their Alzheimer's risks by some 55 percent. One caveat: Because the study collected dietary information in 1998, most patients took a synthetic supplement.

These great results mirror the findings of a study 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).

USA Today August 15, 2005

Alzheimer's Association August 12, 2005