World Alzheimer’s Day 2018: How Food Can Keep Your Brain In Great Shape and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

World Alzheimer’s Day is observed every year on September 21st to focus attention on this degenerative brain disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that slowly erodes memory and mental functions. There’s no cure and no way to halt the progression of the disease. The risk of Alzheimer’s ranges from genetic factors to environmental. Experts believe that apart from maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercise and brain-stimulating activities like learning a new language or solving puzzles, the right diet can also help in reducing the risk of the disease. Dr Ramesh KN, Consultant Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital Cunningham Road shares some important diet tips to reduce the risk of this degenerative brain disease. Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Preventive Measures of Alzheimer's Disease.

According to the doctor, it is important to follow a diet rich in protein, fibre, calcium and vitamin to keep your brain in good shape. Here’s what you should eat.

Leafy Greens

“Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables if you are a vegetarian,” says Dr Ramesh. A diet rich in spinach, fenugreek leaves (methi), kale, mustard leaves, etc. provide your brain with a boost of nutrients.

Meat and Fish

Proteins are an important brain food. The doctor recommends that you have a moderate amount of meat and fish to meet your protein requirements.

Dairy Products

Vegetarians can source proteins from dairy products such as milk, curd, cottage cheese and other dairy products says Dr Ramesh.

Red Peppers

Red peppers are rich in vitamin C, which helps against brain degeneration. Be sure to include this important vegetable in your diet.

Strawberries

Fresh strawberries are teeming with vitamin C. These delicious berries provide your brain with this important nutrient.

Broccoli

Broccoli is known as the ultimate brain food because it helps preserve memory, improves learning, promotes brain healing and even helps rebuild damaged neural cells in the brain. It’s an important weapon against Alzheimer’s.

Almond Oil

Healthy fats such as almond oil are rich in both monosaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It guards against cognitive impairment and dementia associated with Alzheimer’s.

Olive Oil

Part of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is associated with memory-protecting qualities. It enhances learning ability and reduces the formation of plaques and tangles in the brain, which are markers of Alzheimer’s.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a nutrient powerhouse that helps fight against degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Dr Ramesh says that it is a potent antioxidant that helps in the growth of brain cells.

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is known to stave off Alzheimer’s since it contains rich reserves of antioxidants known as flavonols that boost blood flow to the brain, keeping the organ healthy. 5 Myths about Alzheimer's Disease. 

Coffee

The caffeine in the coffee is a protective factor against Alzheimer’s. It has a stimulating effect on the brain and the central nervous system. Dr Ramesh recommends drinking coffee in moderate amounts to keep the brain healthy.

“Alzheimer’s disease may initially seem to be a simple condition of forgetfulness. However, if it is not taken seriously, it can lead to complete memory loss. But with proper care and lifestyle modification, one would be able to cope with the disease,” says Dr Ramesh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2018 07:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).