You keep track of your diet, work out frequently, and don’t smoke. You take care of your heart by exercising, reducing your intake of processed foods, and avoiding foods high in added sugar and salt. But do you also care about the health of your brain? In light of June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, it’s a good idea to consider whether your diet is doing everything it can to keep your mind as sharp as possible. As far as dementia goes, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent. Plaques develop in the brain, which causes a gradual loss of cognitive function and a deterioration in everyday function. Need more incentive to eat that salad? According to studies, eating leafy green vegetables including kale, watercress, spinach, and collard greens helps older people’s cognitive decline go more slowly. And you don’t have to use too much Swiss chard! All that was necessary to slow down brain ageing was one serving of leafy green vegetables per day. Studies on both humans and animals have confirmed the positive impact of grapes on brain function. Grapes support good blood pressure, blood flow, and oxidative stress in the brain, all of which are beneficial to brain health. Like it does in other diseases, inflammation plays a vital role in Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. Polyphenols, tocopherols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are a few of the substances found in walnuts that aid in the reduction of inflammation and have antioxidant properties. Several studies have demonstrated the advantages of eating walnuts in a healthy diet for brain function. With only 80 calories, one cup of fresh blueberries provides vitamin C, as well as manganese, vitamin K, and anthocyanins, which give the little berries their vibrant skins. In addition to giving colour, anthocyanins also have a function in safeguarding the brain.
