Food is a central component of our lives. We need it to fuel our daily lives, to provide energy and sustenance to survive and to feel good. Food is there for us when we celebrate life’s good moments, and often our go-to comfort when things don’t go our way.
Eating a balanced diet can make us feel amazing. When we give our bodies the right nutrients, it functions at a higher capacity, and we feel strong. A steady diet of the wrong food choices leaves us feeling sluggish and tired.
Just as we fuel our bodies, our brains need to be fed with proper nutrition. The brain keeps our hearts beating, our lungs breathing and allows us to move, think and feel. With the right foods, we can increase the productivity of our brain as well as enhance our mood.
For aging seniors, making an effort to include brain-boosting foods into their diet can go a long way to improving or sustaining cognitive brain health. Brain health is also dependent on a healthy cardiovascular system and low blood pressure. Here is a list of foods that can help:
- Nuts and seeds: These delightfully-diverse items are rich in Vitamin E, which the bodies need to help organs (including your brain) do their work efficiently. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, so nuts and seeds in your diet can help slow down various processes that can damage your cells. Cashews, peanuts (and peanut butter!), sesame or sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, flax seeds and walnuts are all delicious examples of foods that can help your brain stay healthy.
- Avocados: Also rich in Vitamin E is the lovely avocado. This fatty fruit contributes to healthy blood flow and can help lower blood pressure. Hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive decline, so researchers believe lower blood pressure will help with brain health.
- Fish! Not just for the bears, fish (especially salmon) is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are crucial for brain function. Salmon and other fatty fishes also boast anti-inflammatory properties.
- Pomegranate juice. Available in a variety of juices and teas, pomegranate juice offers antioxidant properties which protect the brain from free radicals.
- Berries: Other colorful fruits like strawberries, blueberries and acai berries may help slow age-related cognitive decline. Our brains have a natural mechanism that rids the brain of toxic proteins that have been associated with age-related memory loss. This mechanism loses its efficiency as we age, but researchers think these fruits may help keep it functioning better longer.
- Tea: The caffeine in freshly brewed tea can give our brains a little boost. This little bump of caffeine can help our brains dial in on particular tasks and increase our focus and mood. Tea is also full of antioxidants, including a particular group that promotes healthy blood flow. More blood flow to the brain is a good thing!
- Whole grains pack a punch. Oatmeal, whole-grain bread and brown rice are mostly known for reducing the risk of heart disease. By making whole grains part of your regular diet, you improve your cardiovascular health. This in turns promotes better blood flow for all our organs, including the brain.
- Beans, beans – the magical fruit! While they may not sow a giant beanstalk, beans are a brain-friendly food that can stabilize our glucose intake. Our brains need a steady stream of glucose (aka, sugar) to provide energy. There is no way to store this glucose for later brain use, so eating beans (black beans and lentils in particular) will help keep your brain fueled throughout the day.
We can all benefit from ingesting foods that are rich in brain-boosting properties. Aging seniors, in particular, can reap the rewards of foods that improve cognitive function. If you have any questions about age-related cognitive decline or suspect your loved one may be exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia, contact the team at The Legacy: Memory Support. This specially-trained team can answer your questions about diet, care and how to deal with the challenges associated with caring for a person with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Learn more at our website: www.EvergreenSLC.com.
