Foods Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer's
| Want to keep the brain working well all of your life? Researchers from the University of Columbia carefully studied the diets of 2,163 healthy seniors for a 4-year period to see what foods were best for keeping
the brain healthy and preventing early dementia or Alzheimer's disease. They found that certain eating patterns were protective against Alzheimer's disease. The protective dietary pattern included a high intake of plant-based foods, particularly:- Cabbage family foods (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower)
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, dark green lettuce, and greens)
- Tomatoes
- Nuts
- Fish
And a low intake of:
- Red meats (beef, lamb, and pork)
- High-fat dairy products (whole milk, cheese, cream, ice cream, and butter)
People who closely followed this dietary pattern (top 1/3) were 42 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who didn't. Even those who partially followed this pattern (middle 1/3) saw a 23 percent lower risk of Alzheimer's. Interestingly, this same eating pattern is also linked to a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. A shift away from high-saturated fat animal foods and eating more plant-based foods is healthy for the whole body, including the brain.
Tuft's University Health and Nutrition Letter. Sept. 2009. |
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