Who among us hasn't had one of those moments - we walked into a room and forgot why, we misplaced keys, or forgot an appointment. Is it simple forgetfulness or is it something more? According to Harvard Health, concerns about declining thinking and memory skills rank among the top fears among people as they age. Keeping in mind that aging alone is not a general cause of cognitive decline, there are daily lifestyle changes we can make every day to help keep our memories sharp.
Stay physically active and get enough sleep, for starters. Don't smoke and limit alcohol to one drink a day. Stay connected with your friends and family. And, open your refrigerator door and take a peek at what you have stocked. It should be fresh and it should be colorful!
The Power of Food
Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, a leading geriatric neurologist and dementia specialist, suggests better brain health begins in our very own kitchen. He co-authored with celebrity chef Beau MacMillan the cookbook entitled, "The Alzheimer's Prevention Cookbook: 100 Recipes to Boost Brain Health." In it, he shares how to incorporate the correct fruits, vegetables, and spices into your meals to make them brain healthy dishes.
"Incorporating the correct fruits, vegetables and spices, such as cloves or rosemary, into your meals and making small changes to your diet can have a dramatic affect on your memory and can even help in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease," he explains.
In general, experts suggest food that's good for the heart is also good for the brain. The MIND diet, developed by Martha Clare Morris, PhD, a Rush nutritional epidemiologist and her colleagues, combines the Mediterranean diet - Mediterranean-style cooking - and the DASH diet - used to reduce hypertension - and focuses on the foods in each that specifically affect brain health.
Rated number two in US News and World Report's 2016 "Best Diets Overall," the MIND diet focuses on eating from 10 brain-healthy food groups: vegetables, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts, berries, beans, olive oil and wine. (Yes, wine, but keep it to glass a day!) The diet avoids foods from five unhealthy groups, including butter and stick margarine, pastries and sweets, cheeses, and fast or fried food. As with any new diet, always check with your doctor first.
The Added Power of the Blueberry
The blueberry deserves a special place on your plate every day. In addition to the heart boosting benefits, blueberries can help prevent brain aging by 7.5 years, according to a new study from Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, which found adhering to the MIND diet helped reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive degeneration.
The key to better brain health can't be found in a nutritional supplement, one food group or even within one form of exercise. By making smart choices in our daily routines, including what we eat, however, we can keep our minds lively and healthy.
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://westminsterwindow.com/stories/Boosting-brain-health-one-spoonful-at-a-time,220515?branding=15
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