Sleep Deprived? Eat More Almonds And Kale, Women's Study Says

It's always a struggle to get the elusive ideal eight hours sleep. But, a new study conducted by University of Pennsylvania doctors shows that women who eat Vitamin E and antioxidant-rich foods can improve spatial memory while sleep deprived.

The study, called Vitamin E intake associates with spatial memory performance during sleep restriction in healthy women, involved 41 people and showed that women who ate more foods with Vitamin E performed better on a spatial memory assessment called the Visual Object Learning Task. The assessment asked if the women remembered where they left their keys or driving directions.

Lack of sleep can lead to long-term health conditions like diabetes and heart disease, according to another study by the University of Pennsylvania. Vitamin E can neutralize free radicals to protect cells, which can slow cognitive decline and can even protect the skin against sun damage and wrinkles, according to Dr. E Bank, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center . It is mostly found in nuts and leafy greens. Other examples include broccoli, avocado, papaya, Swiss chard, olives, and hazelnuts.