Foods rich in flavonols like tea reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease according to a new study published in the scientific journal neurology.
The study was conducted on 921 participants with an average age of 81 years followed for six to 12 years. Scientists observed that subjects consuming more flavonols were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Encourage tea, fruits and vegetables
Foods rich in flavonols are tea, of which it is recommended to drink a cup a day according to the DailyMail which takes up the study, olive oil, pears, oranges and broccoli as well as kale. Ingredients of the Mediterranean diet whose benefits are no longer to be proven. Respecting the recommendation of the national health nutrition program to consume five fruits and vegetables a day is a good start.
“Eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more tea could be an inexpensive and easy way for everyone to prevent dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr Thomas Holland, one of the authors of the study which specifies that these results are not definitive because “more research is necessary in order to confirm these results, these discoveries are nevertheless promising”.
Not all foods and food extracts are safe to take
Red wine is also high in flavanols, but its alcohol content makes it a drink to be consumed in moderation.
“It is important to keep in mind that consuming isolated flavonols or extracts from flavonol-rich foods, for example, tea extracts, will not be effective in reducing the risk of disease. High doses may have negative effects on health” nuance Dr Ada Garcia, nutrition specialist at the University of Glasgow, quoted by the DailyMail.
In France, 900,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, 225,000 new cases are diagnosed each year according to the Alzheimer Research Foundation.
