Not eating enough leafy green vegetables may take a toll on the heart health of teens. In this study, researchers monitored the physical activity, diet, and heart health of 766 teens and found that those who seldom ate vitamin k-rich foods, such as spinach and lettuce, had a three-times greater risk for an enlarged left ventricle (a pumping chamber in the heart) than adolescents who regularly consumed leafy greens. An enlarged left ventricle increases the risk for hypertension in adulthood and can lead to impaired heart function.
Journal of Nutrition, October 2017