The Best Foods to Ward Off Alzheimer’s

Posted: October 30, 2015

When we get sick, we tend to resort to over-the-counter or prescription medications to feel better. It usually doesn’t cross our minds that we could treat our illnesses through diet.

This doesn’t just apply to colds and flus. There are diets that can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. New research suggests that a regimen known as the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet can help reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer’s.

The MIND diet was shown to reduce Alzheimer’s risk by 53 percent, when followed full time. However, even people who just followed the diet part time still were found to have a 35 percent reduction in their risk. Below are a few of the most important components of MIND and how they keep your brain healthy.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Leafy greens are a major part of the MIND diet. Studies have found that eating two or more servings a day slowed down overall brain degeneration. In some cases it even improved brain function, showing a rejuvenation of sorts that made it comparable to brains that were five years younger. These benefits can be attributed to the vitamin E and antioxidants in the veggies.

Berries

Berries are the first kind of fruit you should go for in the morning. By eating one serving of blueberries and two servings of strawberries every week, brains were shown to stay younger and age at a slower rate. These berries have anthocyanins, an antioxidant that keeps brain neurons in the memory region of the brain from degenerating.

Fish

The MIND diet is heavy on Mediterranean food, and fish plays a big role in that type of cooking. A true Mediterranean diet includes about six servings of fish a week, but if that is a bit much for you, then you can still gain some of the Alzheimer’s-reducing benefits by eating just one serving a week. Eating fish every week also has been shown to increase gray matter in the brain, the tissue that is shown to decrease with Alzheimer’s disease.

Wine

Not only does wine increase your heart health, but it also prevents cognitive decline. In 2014, a study found that individuals that drank one-and-a-half glasses of wine every day had better memory function than people who drank less.

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Disclaimer: This article is made available for general, entertainment and educational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Low T Center. You should always seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.