Our brain is the most important organ in our body. It helps us carry out our cognitive tasks, regulates the working of all the other organs and organ systems in our body and also holds our memories and experiences. But due to a number of reasons, whether genetic or environmental, the brain can get afflicted with serious illnesses that hamper its functioning and are thus one of the most dangerous diseases known to man.
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease which means that over a prolonged period of time, the brain and its neurons slowly degenerate until they are unable to perform even the simplest of tasks. The most common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is dementia and more specifically short-term memory loss. Apart from hereditary factors, obesity, hypertension and depression are believed to play a part in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. As the patient’s condition becomes worse, they lose more and more control of their brains and it ultimately leads to death.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are a number of steps you can take to limit the risk of this horrible and heart-breaking disease. Living an active lifestyle with plenty of exercise is one way and another is to eat a diet that protects your brain. Here are some foods that can help you lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease:-
- Olive Oil
A staple of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking oils due to the healthy dose of fats that are present in it. But not only that, olive oil is also helpful in keeping Alzheimer’s disease at bay due to its amazing anti-oxidant content. The anti-oxidants found in olive oil are capable of improving brain function and also boost the memory and learning abilities.
In addition to the anti-oxidants, olive oil is also good for your heart which in the long run ensures that your brain is well-supplied with blood, thereby lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. You can learn more about the benefits of olive oil by clicking here.
- Pulses
Lentils like pulses are not only tasty to eat and easy to add to any dish, they also pack in a whole lot of important nutrients for the body. One of these nutrients is a number of essential B vitamins which are present in generous quantities in pulses. These B vitamins help to reduce the age-related shrinkage of the brain that plays a part in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. You can find out more about pulses here.
- Walnuts
Walnuts are incredibly healthy for your brain which isn’t a surprise because they actually look like little brains in a shell! Walnuts are rich in a number of nutrients, most important among them being omega-3 fatty acids. Not only do omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease they also reduce the inflammation that contributes to the build-up of harmful plaque in the brain.
To learn more about the benefits of walnuts, click here.
- Green Tea
One of the most anti-oxidant rich foods in the world, green tea is an essential component in any anti-Alzheimer’s diet. The anti-oxidants fight off the threat of harmful free radicals, keeping the brain in a healthy state. Moreover, the anti-oxidants also get rid of the build-up of plaque in the brain which is responsible for causing Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, green tea will really be of great help to you in keeping Alzheimer’s at bay; learn more about it here.
- Turmeric
Turmeric is found in nearly every kitchen in India but here is another reason to cherish it even more. An important chemical found in turmeric, known as curcumin is an extremely potent anti-oxidant, while also being anti-inflammatory. In addition to all this, curcumin from turmeric is also anti-amyloid which means that it stops the amyloid protein from collecting into groups and causing plaque formation in the brain, which is at the root of neural degeneration from Alzheimer’s.
Learn more about the properties of turmeric here.
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that doesn’t have a cure. Protect your brain from it by eating these brain-friendly foods.