Nutrition and health are closely intertwined. You are what you eat, as the saying goes, and the food choices you make can have a big impact on your mental and physical health.
As the population ages and more people experience cognitive loss, now is the ideal time to rethink your diet – or the diets of the seniors in your life. What small improvements can you make to increase your brain capability?
Foods to Include in Your Diet for Brain Health
You may have a good idea of which foods are healthy for your brain. For instance, fish has long been regarded as the ultimate brain meal. However, there are plenty of other ingredients that can help you maintain a healthy, robust brain.
Some tasty foods that are also good for your brain include:
Whole grains
You can easily include additional brain-boosting nutrients in your meals by substituting brown rice and whole grains for bread and pasta. Vitamin E, an antioxidant linked to brain function, may be abundant in whole grains.
Berries
Because of their antioxidants, blueberries are an indisputable superfood, but there are plenty of other berries that can help prevent cognitive decline. Strawberries and blackberries are also excellent brain boosters.
Olive oil
To improve your cognitive fortitude, prepare your meals with extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil has been proven to have characteristics that battle proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease in studies. It’s also a component of the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, which aims to improve brain health.
Coffee
Coffee has been found in studies to assist in information processing. Coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment over time. That is if it does not keep you awake all night.
Chocolate
Dark chocolate is another tasty source of antioxidants that can help protect the brain from oxidative stress, which can cause cognitive loss. What better excuse do you have to indulge in a sweet dessert after dinner?
Seeds and nuts
Snacking on handfuls of nuts and seeds can help you get more antioxidants like vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. If possible, choose raw, unsalted choices to avoid unnecessary sodium.
Spinach and other leafy greens
Because of their high nutrient content, leafy greens are also a staple of the MIND diet. For an extra boost of vitamin E, folates, and other nutrients, add more spinach, kale, and other greens.
How Home Care Assistance Helps
Maintaining a consistent, healthy diet is a cornerstone of a happier, healthier lifestyle, and we help elders achieve that goal at Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington. To assist elders in eating healthily, we offer grocery shopping and meal preparation as part of our home care service plans.
Contact Home Care Assistance to learn more about our compassionate home care services for you or a loved one.
