Most people do not consider how their food choices now can help them prevent serious illnesses later in their life. We at Carefect Home Care Services understand the importance of food choices in the prevention and risk reduction of Alzheimer’s disease, and we hope that sharing our knowledge will be of use to those who are potentially at risk. Starting a proper diet now can help reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s in the future which is extremely important if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.
Omega 3
The main food that has been proven to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is Omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in a variety of foods, and some studies say that eating foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids at least once a week can slow cognitive decline by up to 10%. Omega 3 fatty acids are most commonly found in fish such as salmon, herring, and white tuna, but if you do not eat fish you can substitute the fish for fish oil supplements. Omega 3 can also be found in some seeds and nuts, such as flaxseed and walnuts, and even some vegetables like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Vitamins C and E
Foods that are rich in vitamins C and E can also help lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin C is usually pretty easy to add to your diet because it can be found in citrus fruits and strawberries or vegetable items like red peppers and broccoli. Adding a salad or fruit salad to your weekly diet now can help decrease your risk of getting Alzheimer’s down the road. Vitamin E is not something that you commonly see listed on food items, but it can be found in olive oil, which is something that a lot of people cook with. If you normally cook with vegetable oil, try occasionally substituting it with olive oil so that you can get the vitamin E benefits from it.
Flavonoids
The next item on the list is flavonoids. For those of you who have not heard of flavonoids, they are a powerful antioxidant that can be found in a variety of common fruits and vegetables. Fruits that contain flavonoids are apples, blueberries, cranberries and grapefruit. Vegetables that contain flavonoids include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, garlic, kale, kidney and lima beans, onions, peas and spinach. Mixing these fruits and vegetables in with the ones that give you vitamin C will greatly reduce your risk while making a delicious fruit salad or regular salad. Those who like Italian food can make their own Italian seasoning using olive oil and garlic which will provide vitamin E and flavonoids.
Curry Powder
Fans of Indian food will be glad to know that curry powder is another great item for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Eating foods with a lot of curry has been proven to increase brain performance. Curry powder contains curcumin which is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-amyloid that provides a triple threat to Alzheimer’s by keeping the brain from building plaque and decreasing cognitive function. If you have never tried Indian food but are concerned about getting Alzheimer’s disease, now is a great time to try it out.
Folate
Next up on the helpful foods list is folate. Folate is similar to folic acid, which is commonly suggested for pregnant women to take. Folate and folic acid work the same way in the body, so if you are pregnant, you can start eating foods rich in folate and it will be good for your baby as well as helping to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Folate can be found in dark leafy greens and dried beans, so add some leafy greens to your salad and you will have just about everything you need to prevent Alzheimer’s in one dish.
Red Wine
The final thing on the list is a favorite of many people, but it is important to keep moderation in mind. Drinking 12 ounces of red wine a day has been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 75 percent. It is recommended to drink three 4 ounce glasses a day in order to get the best results according to a French study. This suggestion is of course aimed towards those who are not pregnant and are over twenty-one.
To wrap things up, we at Carefect Home Care Services would like to encourage everyone to try out some of the foods in this list of foods that may prevent or reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease. People should understand their possible risk of getting the disease and take steps now to not only prevent the disease, but also improve their overall health and quality of life.
