Living a healthy lifestyle often includes maintaining a nutritious diet and having regular exercise. These are important for defending your body against many different health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Eating healthy and making good dietary choices will help to benefit your overall brain health. Throughout your life, good eating habits will keep you sharp and protect your cognitive ability. This is especially important for older adults. Read on to learn more about the brain-boosting foods that seniors should add to their diet!
Blueberries
Blueberries may be able to reverse short-term memory loss and help with balance as well! Thankfully, blueberries can be found all year long at most grocery shops. You can drink blueberry juice or smoothies which contain plenty of this delicious fruit. Consider adding some blueberries to a fresh spinach salad to enjoy a healthy and nutritious meal.
Nuts
Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids provide us with numerous health benefits, especially for the brain. It helps us with our memory and cognitive function. Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike salmon, you can enjoy eating walnuts daily. You can also add walnuts to your salad and that will add some balance to it.
Broccoli
Broccoli is high in Vitamin K. It has been known to affect cognition positively. Broccoli is also loaded with fiber and antioxidants, which makes it a wonderful vegetable to add to your regular diet. Broccoli can be added to salad, soup, or steamed as a side dish. You can make it part of your daily meal plan to stay sharp and keep in good health.
Salmon
Studies have shown that replacing meat with salmon a few times a week helps to slow down mental degeneration. Salmon and other fishes such as sardines, tuna, and halibut contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). If you consume more DHA, it helps the brain to function more efficiently. Salmon can be prepared easily by either pan-frying it or roasting it in the oven. You need no more than 10 minutes to have a healthy dish.
Olive Oil
A compound found in extra virgin olive oil may be beneficial for fighting off proteins that result in Alzheimer’s disease. You can use olive oil in your daily cooking by substituting it for butter when you grease a pan. Choose to cook healthy Mediterranean dishes where olive oil is the staple ingredient.
Curry
Curry is known as a brain-healthy food as it contains turmeric, which has a high level of the chemical curcumin. It helps to boost memory, slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and reduce inflammation. You can make coconut curry chicken with broccoli, and add these ingredients into your diet to enhance your brainpower.
After reading about the brain-boosting foods that older adults should add to their diet, you might want to stay in a senior living community where you can enjoy nutritious and healthy meals every single day. Feel free to contact us for more information!
