Get More Greens

Red produce like apples and peppers have gotten a lot of buzz lately thanks to their antioxidant-packed nutrition profiles, but that doesn't mean you should give up your green veggies, especially if you worry about memory loss. A new study from the University of Illinois reports that celery and green peppers may prevent Alzheimer's. These greens are packed with a flavonoid called luteolin, which impedes inflammation in the brain. "Alzheimer's begins when a protein in the brain, called CD40, sends out stress signals triggering an inflammatory response that ultimately kills brain cells," says Beth Reardon, RD, an integrative nutritionist at Duke Integrative Medicine. "Luteolin blunts CD40's signals and in turn protects your brain's cells fom inflammation and premature death."

Natural Solutions 2008