北师版选修7Unit 21 Human Biology
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Eating Spinach Makes You Mentally Sharp
While Popeye ate spinach1 every day to maintain strong muscles，he was also bettering his
memory，maybe without even knowing it.
Consuming just a daily serving of spinach—or any type of leafy green，for that matter—may
help slow the process of age－associated cognitive decline2，according to a new study.The
reason？Vitamin K.
A group of researchers at Rush University in Chicago who analyzed the diets and mental
functions of 954 elderly people over a five－year period found that those who ate more greens
in their diets were more likely to be mentally sharp.
The researchers tracked the diets of participants，whose age averaged 81，for an average
of five years.They found that people who ate one or two daily portions of green leafy vegetables
had the same cognitive abilities as someone 11 years younger who never consumed leafy greens.
“No other studies have looked at vitamin K in relation to change in cognitive abilities
over time，and only a limited number of studies have found some association with lutein3，”
said Martha Clare Morris，Sc.D.，assistant provost for community research at Rush University
Medical Center and the leader of the study's research team.The team believes that other foods
high in these nutrients，like asparagus4 and
carrots could provide the same benefits as the darker greens，and they intend to expand their
research to explore this possibility.
The research holds promise of a brain booster5 that is accessible and affordable.“Since
declining cognitive ability is central to Alzheimer's disease and dementia，increasing
consumption of green leafy vegetables could offer a very simple，affordable and non－invasive6
way of potentially protecting your brain from Alzheimer's disease and dementia，”
Morris said.
Notes
1．spinach n．菠菜
2．cognitive decline 认知衰退
3．lutein n．叶黄素
4．asparagus n．芦笋
5．booster n．助推器，辅助药剂
6．non－invasive adj.非侵入的
Task
Which of the following is FALSE according to the passage?
A．Vitamin K may help slow the process of age－associated cognitive decline.
B．The researchers tracked the diets of participants for an average of five years.
C．Only a limited number of studies have found lutein has the same function as vitamin
K.
D．The team believes carrots could provide the same benefits as the darker greens.
答案 C
