Key points from article :
Eating plant-based foods, especially apples and blackberries, could potentially reduce the risk of developing frailty.
These foods are rich in dietary compounds known as flavonols.
The study found that with every 10 mg increase in daily flavonol intake, equivalent to one medium-sized apple, the chances of frailty were reduced by 20%.
Frailty is generally characterized by reduced muscle strength and fatigue, with 10% of people over 65, and up to 50% of those over 85, affected by it.
Currently, dietary recommendations for preventing frailty mainly focus on protein intake, but this research highlights the potential health benefits of other foods.
Although no significant link was found between total flavonoid intake and frailty, higher intake of flavonols, especially quercetin, was associated with lower chances of developing the condition.
Research by Harvard Medical School published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
