The passing of time starts to take its toll on our whole bodies, including the brain. Keeping our minds as healthy as possible is crucial towards fighting diseases associated with old age. So why not do it while savoring healthy and delicious meals?
How Age Causes Memory Loss
Our brain functions start to get rusty as we age. We take longer to process information, we forget simple words or definitions, we take longer to find answers to questions, and so on. But if we give our brain enough time, the information will come back to us by itself.
It is crucial to learn the differences between normal age-related forgetfulness and the symptoms that indicate you are succumbing to illness.
Our brains are constantly producing new brain cells unaffected by age. As we age, because we are too weak to do as many things as when we were young, we tend to use our brains less and less. And just like muscles, if we don’t use them, they lose strength.
We have to keep our brains healthy by engaging them in daily activities.
#1: Vegetables
One great vegetable to enjoy while keeping your mind healthy at the same time is broccoli. This vegetable is packed with compounds such as antioxidants and vitamin K, essential for your body to form sphingolipids, which is the fat found in brain cells. Studies show a link between high vitamin K intake and better memory in older adults.
Turning your nose up at the sight of broccoli? You can try cauliflower or Brussel sprouts, likewise rich in vitamin K! Also, leafy greens such as kale, spinach and collard greens are full of vitamin K.
#2: Fruit
Various fruits are great for keeping your mind and memory in top-notch condition. For starters, blueberries and many other berries carry plant compounds called anthocyanins, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In addition, anthocyanins act against brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Oranges are best known for their significant vitamin C levels. But did you know that oranges can improve your memory to an elephant’s level? This is because vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant essential in preventing mental health decline. Research shows vitamin C enhances attention, memory and focus. Also, vitamin C protects your brain from anxiety, depressive disorder, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Not a big fan of oranges? Try kiwi, guava or strawberries instead!
#3: Drinks
Although a beverage is not really considered food, we can’t ignore coffee and wine’s contribution to tackling memory loss.
Coffee is the perfect beverage to keep you safe from memory loss. Coffee contains antioxidants and caffeine, two essential components for supporting brain health. Drinking coffee also reduces the risk of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These effects were visible in adults drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee daily.
If coffee is an essential beverage for fighting memory loss, then green tea cannot escape this list.
Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that increases the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA that helps reduce anxiety. Green tea is also rich in polyphenols, and alongside antioxidants, they reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Studies show that green tea improves alertness, focus, memory and performance.
In moderation, wine has positive and protective effects on our brain health. Wine contains flavonoids, plant chemicals that act as anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Drinking a couple of glasses of wine a week reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Wine also contains an organic compound named resveratrol (i.e., a dietary supplement found in plants). Studies show that resveratrol can keep Alzheimer’s disease away from our brains.
A Parting Reminder
It is vital to watch out for your brain health. By being careful about your food, you can live a long and healthy life. Although developing memory loss is always possible, keeping an eye out for your brain health is the best choice to protect it against memory loss.
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