Generous intake of vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables, may decrease an older woman's chances of being admitted in the hospital from fall-related injuries.
This study explored the association between the frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables and the likelihood of suffering from and being hospitalized from fall-related injuries in elderly women. Researchers from Australia followed over 1,400 women aged 70 years and above, assessed their muscular function, and tracked their eating habits and medical records.
The research team observed a favorable relationship between adherence to diets rich in vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables, and a significant decline in the risk of having fall-related injuries requiring hospital admission. This beneficial association may be due to better physical and muscular function, such as improved grip strength, in older women on high vegetable diet. The evidence from this study support that "falls reduction may be considered an additional benefit of higher vegetable intake in older women."