MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND DEMENTIA
What we eat is a major factor in our brain health. For some of us, our appetite diminishes as we age, meaning we miss out on certain nutrients and necessary building blocks for ideal health. The Alzheimer’s Society reported in a recent study all the existing evidence about how the Mediterranean diet helps problems with memory, thinking, and dementia.
The Mediterranean diet includes the following items as beneficial to eat:
- In moderation: poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt
- Organic foods
- Blueberries
- Coconut oil
- Walnuts
- Dark chocolate
- Avocados
While on the diet, you want to avoid eating:
- Sugar
- Sweetened beverage
- Added sugars
- Processed meat
- Refined grains
- Refined oils and other highly processed foods
Additional benefits of the Mediterranean diet include:
- It is associated with a reduced risk of stroke.
- It is good for your heart.
- It is associated with reduced risk of cancer.
- It is a lifestyle, not just a food eating plan—sharing meals with family and friends has been shown to benefit health in and of itself.
For several years I have been eating a ketogenic diet, which is very similar to the Mediterranean diet. I definitely feel good effects from it—including having more energy.
Dear reader, do you follow any particular diet or nutritional lifestyle? If you have tried the Mediterranean diet, it would be helpful to know what effects it has had. Do you plan to continue to follow this diet? Would you recommend it to others? All comments are welcome and appreciated!
