Foods That Fight Alzheimer's

By Jonathan Bryan Mostowski

Healthy eating is more than just looking good in a bathing suit. Food is energy, food is life, but it can also be medicine. There is no questioning the long history connecting diet and health. The rise in diseases have people wondering what they can to better protect themselves. We know that exercising and eating right is part of the equation. What does eating right mean? Can you target diseases and eat diets that reduce your risks? Many studies are suggesting that you can.

In this post I will be discussing one diseases that is on the rise, Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a physical disease which affects the brain. As the disease progresses protein 'plaques' and 'tangles' build-up in the brain, which results in death of brain cells. Moreover the transmission of messages in the brain is diminished through a reduction in certain chemicals in the brain.

So how can your diet help protect your brain and reduce your risks of Alzheimer's? Every time you eat there are chemical reactions taking place in your body, eating the right nutrients reinforce your body's natural processes which improve overall health and function.

Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, for example, help to remove highly reactive forms of oxygen in the brain preventing damage to cells. If these free radicals are left unchecked, they can damage cells faster than the body can repair them.

Monounsaturated fats and omega-3 also provide your brain with important nutrients that help to ensure longevity. Brazil Nuts are a great source of monounsaturated, fats. They are also high in magnesium which is necessary for the transmission of signals between the brain and the body. Other nuts including almonds, walnuts and cashews are also brain foods that should be eaten daily.

Chia seeds and cold water fish are high in omega-3 which are believed to help prevent cognitive disorders. Other foods high in omega-3 include nuts, grass-feed beef, and flax seeds. Chia seeds have also been shown to help keep the arteries of the brain clear of plaque. Keeping these arteries clear provides critical nourishment to the brain.

Coffee is another food that has shown signs of improving brain health and function. Studies have shown that coffee can improve short-term memory as well as supports the blood-brain barrier. This is important for protecting the brain from damaging cholesterol.

Here are a list of 5 nutrients that you should include in your diet to help protect against dementia:

1. Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
2. Vitamin E
3. Vitamin B12
4. Folate
5. Omega-3 Fatty acids

Diets that are low in high-fat dairy products, red meat, organ meat, and butter and high in nuts, fish, poultry, tomatoes, fruits, and green vegetables tend to have lower occurrences of Alzheimer's. Those following a Mediterranean diet, which is primarily plant, nut, and seafood based are at the lowest risk of developing the disease.

In addition to a healthy diet here are 5 additional steps to take to improve brain health:

1. Regular Exercise
2. Mental Stimulation
3. Quality Sleep
4. Stay Social
5. Control Stress

Remember your diet is more than just eating, it is eating foods which have a high nutrient to calorie ratio and provide the essential nutrients that allow your body function properly, Live Fit, Be Fit...

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