Naga Munchetty adds spinach and broccoli to her diet every day (Image: Lia Toby/Getty Images)
BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty swears by two vegetables to maintain her health, despite not leading “the healthliest life”.
The presenter, who turned 50 this year, insists on a daily dose of broccoli and spinach, as she believes in the mantra instilled by her mother: always eat your greens.
Reflecting on her milestone birthday, Naga expressed: “Turning 50 in February didn’t feel scary. I genuinely have never been bothered about ageing. I’m alive, I’m relatively healthy and I’m happy and that’s all that matters. There is no existential crisis.”
Despite avoiding cosmetic “tweakments” such Botox and occasionally sleeping with her make-up on, Naga credits her youthful vigour to her vegetable-rich diet.
“I use cheap pharmacy-bought moisturiser and I don’t live the healthiest life,” she revealed to My Weekly magazine. “But, my mum instilled in me the need to have two veg a day, and that’s always stuck with me. So, I live on spinach and broccoli.”
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Spinach is said to improve brain health (Image: Minh Hoang Cong/500px via Getty Images)
Spinach and broccoli health benefits
The virtues of spinach and broccoli are backed by science, with research published in the US National Library of Medicine indicating that a daily serving of leafy greens can decelerate cognitive decline. Regular consumers of these vegetables reportedly have a mental age of 11 years younger than those who skip them.
For optimal brain health, expert Kimberley Wilson advises a diet rich in dark greens such as kale, spinach, watercress, rocket, and lettuces, emphasising: “The darker the green the better.”
She elaborated further on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast: “A separate study, that looked at these nutrients in brain samples, found that the levels of nutrients associated with leafy greens were 50 per cent lower in the brains of people who died with healthy brains.
“So, we think these nutrients are particularly protective, full of antioxidants.”
Broccoli is packed with vitamins C and K as well as iron (Image: Mint Images/Tim Pannell via Getty Images)
Spinach is hailed as a nutritional titan, packed with iron, vitamins C and E, potassium, and magnesium.
Health websites such as Medical News Today tout spinach’s benefits for bolstering immune function, aiding digestion and potentially offering anti-cancer effects, reports Surrey Live.
Web MD’s medically reviewed research highlights how vitamin A in spinach is used by the body to develop tissue, including skin.
The report stated: “Not only does vitamin A support your skin’s immune system (preventing disease and damage), it also helps your skin stay hydrated, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Moreover, spinach and similar leafy vegetables are abundant in vitamin C, essential for collagen production and maintenance. Clinical trials have shown that this vitamin can help diminish wrinkles.
The BBC Breakfast host said her mother taught her healthy eating habits (Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
A particular study revealed that daily application of a vitamin C formula for a minimum of three months led to improvements in both fine and coarse wrinkles on the face and neck, as well as enhancing overall skin texture and appearance.
Brimming with vitamin C, iron and vitamin K, broccoli comes highly recommended as a nutrient powerhouse not just for its fibre content but also for the phytonutrients it contains.
Nutri Advanced, supported by qualified nutritionists, advocates for broccoli’s age-defying properties, highlighting the significance of compounds such as sulforaphane.
They explained: “Sulforaphane helps your liver combat toxins, supports healthy oestrogen metabolism and protects cells from oxidative damage.
“Beyond basic nutrients, phytonutrients are crucial for overall health and longevity.”
The two vegetables can be used to make a healthy smoothie (Image: Getty)
Research indicates that sulforaphane possesses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, offering protection to the brain by counteracting processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Adding weight to the super vegetable’s benefits, Good Food cites studies suggesting that glucosinolates found in broccoli may slow down the decomposition of acetylcholine – a vital brain chemical essential for maintaining sharp cognitive function and memory.
What the NHS says
On the subject of healthy eating, the NHS guidance is clear: “Evidence shows there are significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. That’s five portions of fruit and veg in total, not five portions of each. A portion of fruit or vegetables is 80g.
Naga added she was never bothered by ageing (Image: Getty)
“The 5-a-day campaign is based on advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.”
The health service extolled the virtues of fruit and vegetables, noting they are “a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium”.
It further highlighted their role in digestive health, adding: “They’re an excellent source of dietary fibre, which can help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer.”