Sharpen Your Ninja Reflexes By Eating More Spinach, Eggs and Soy

If you enjoy eating spinach omelets or drinking soy milk, you're in luck. Researchers have found that a common nutrient in spinach, eggs, cheese and soy that could help you react quicker. A team of researchers from Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam put the nutrient, called tyrosine, in one glass of orange juice and a placebo in the other. They found that participants who drank the tyrosine-laced OJ did better on a reflex test that they designed. The test was simple: whenever a green arrow appeared on the computer screen, they were instructed to press the corresponding button as quickly as possible. Buttons had to match direction of the arrow - either left or right. When a red arrow appeared, participants were instructed to do nothing. Researchers hypothesize that increased intake of tyrosine-rich foods and supplements could have implications on road safety, improving drivers’ reaction times to braking for children or pile-ups. The mental health implications of this nutrient could be huge too, as researchers say that depression and apathy can be lowered with regular intake.