8 Health Foods that May Combat Alzheimer’s Disease

When you or someone that you love has Alzheimer’s disease, you want to do everything you can to help them. It isn’t always easy. But in addition to the many brain exercises and living accommodations you research and try, there are also simple updates you can make to their diet. Incorporating healthy foods can make a big difference in overall health, as well as in cognition and mood — and are well worth experimenting! Here are some health foods that you can try.

Leafy Greens

Your mom always told you to eat your greens. She had a point. The vitamin K, calcium and folate in leafy greens like spinach, kale and collard greens can help with cognition and reduce depression.

Oil-Based Salad Dressings

Dress that salad with a tasty oil! Oil-based salad dressing offers you powerful antioxidants to keep you healthy, as well as vitamin E, which may help slow memory loss.

Cantaloupe

In the spring and summer months, share a dessert of sweet ripe cantaloupe. Cantaloupe contains antioxidants that improve overall health and a good dose of beta-carotene, which may reduce the risk of dementia.

Seeds

Not all seeds belong in your garden. It turns out that eating sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds provides choline and vitamin E to help combat Alzheimer’s.

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Nuts

Tucked away inside many tasty, crunchy nuts are omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts are an excellent example. Omega-3 fatty acids can improve heart and brain health!

Nutrient-Fortified Cereals

Start each morning with a bowl of healthy nutrient-fortified cereals to improve overall health. A good fortified cereal can ensure that basic needs for more obscure nutrients are met, including vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate.

Salmon

Enjoy a nice fish dinner with fresh salmon. In addition to being a healthy protein source, salmon also offers your body omega-3 acids, which are found in cell membranes and are important for brain health.

Dark Chocolate

Share some good dark chocolate and eat it without feeling guilty! Dark chocolate (and raspberries, which incidentally go very well together) contain a compound called resveratrol, which may slow cognitive decline.

While curing Alzheimer’s disease isn’t as easy as a change in diet, food can play a role in the symptoms and risk. Each of these foods provide differing benefits for Alzheimer’s disease and overall health. It can’t hurt to find some tasty recipes that incorporate foods like kale and salmon into regular meals, and nuts, raspberries and dark chocolate are an easy and tasty snack. Give it a try; you might be surprised by how much you and your loved ones enjoy it!

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