After all these years of hearing the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, now we are learning that the “Dutch Diet” (very similar) might just be key to bigger brains and thus to better cognitive skills as we age.
People with greater brain volume have been shown in other studies to have better cognitive abilities. Diet may be one of our best strategies to maintaining our thinking skills.
The diet recommended by the Dutch government consists of vegetables, fruit, nuts, whole grains, dairy and fish and a low intake of sugary drinks. Sugary drinks, like Coke, are totally off the list for good health. Search for “What Happens When Someone Drinks a Coke” if you still need evidence of why that is so.
Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, said in a statement: “Although brain size can be a useful indicator of brain health, this measure does not allow us to draw any firm conclusions about how diet quality relates to the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s, or the symptoms of dementia. While this study looked at a large number of people, it relied on participants reporting their eating habits, and people do not always present their behavior accurately in this kind of self-assessment.
She added: “The best current evidence suggests that, as well as healthy eating, not smoking, only drinking in moderation, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and staying mentally and physically active can all help us to maintain a healthy brain as we age.” (See “Diet for a Bigger Brain”)
This week, ditch the colas and dig into a Dutch diet. In “Radio Times” (17 February 1979) Benny Green quoted Adolph Zukor, founder of Paramount Pictures, as having said on the approach to his hundredth birthday, “If I’d known how old I was going to be I’d have taken better care of myself.” Zukor died in 1976, having been born in 1873. For however long we will live, let’s shoot for bigger brains!
Tips from 5 April 2010 to 6 August 2012 are here: Archived Tips
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Rev. Debra Basham
Voice or text: (269) 921-2217 Email: debra@scs-matters.com http://DebraBasham.com http://ImagineHealing.info http://SurgicalSupport.info Small Changes … Infinite Results™
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~ Mother Teresa |