So, we’re used to people eating a healthy diet to lose weight and look healthy. But what about eating to improve brain health? A recent study published in the journal Neurology, found that having a healthy diet can lower a person’s risk for decline in memory and cognitive function while aging.
This study did not single out one particular diet. It just analyzed a diverse group of people from all around the world, who had what would be considered a healthy diet by most organizations. The study monitored the eating habits of 27,860 men and women from 40 different countries. Each participant were grade on the amount of healthy and unhealthy food consumed. Participants were tested on their memory and thinking skills at the initiation of the study, two years, and five years after the start of the study. Researchers found that the group of people adhering to the healthiest diets were 24% less likely to experience cognitive declines, as compared to people with the unhealthiest diets.
Other studies that researched the effects of an unhealthy diet on brain function, and found that the effects on brain and heart were quite similar. Diets high in bad fats (unsaturated and trans fats), raises bad cholesterol. This leads to plaque buildup in arteries, and in time, can cause increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Here’s a list of some brain boosting foods and to add to your diet.
- Whole Grain
- Oily Fish
- Blueberries
- Tomatoes
- Black Currants
- Broccoli
- Pumpkin Seeds, other nuts
- Sage
Sources: Medicaldaily.com: Eating Healthy Lowers Risk of Declining Memory, Thinking Skills by 24%.
Dehghan M, O’Donnell M, Smyth A, et al. Healthy eating and reduced risk of cognitive decline. Neurology. 2015.
Photo Credit: Viktor Hanacek, via picjumbo.com
