Century Park Blog

What are you feeding your brain today?

Research now proves that simple dietary changes can manipulate your gene expressions and re-route your future to prevent cognitive disease! What you eat for dinner tonight is stacking your odds one way or the other. 

At least 80 percent of Alzheimer’s disease victims also have heart disease. Consequently, the same diet that promotes heart disease also promotes cognitive decline. Since the year 2000, deaths by heart disease have decreased by 11 percent while deaths by Alzheimer’s have increased 123 percent. Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in America, greater than prostate and breast cancer combined. Unfortunately, women are more susceptible, comprising over half of all Alzheimer’s victims. 

Here are five simple, evidence-based nutrition tips that promise optimal brain health and strengthen the preventive power against Alzheimer’s disease:

Eat from the Rainbow

If you do only one thing, let it be this! Our cells suffer damage called oxidation. Every vibrant shade in nature’s rainbow has color-specific vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that heal and prevent oxidative damage. Blueberries, for example, are one of the most potent antioxidants we may eat! Their blue color originates from the antioxidants anthocyanin, flavanol and resveratrol, which protect our cells, slow and reverse aging and expand brain capacity. A 2017 study from the American Academy of Neurology proved that individuals who ate just one serving of leafy greens each day had brains that functioned 11 years younger than those who ate fewer servings of leafy greens! Make it a playful challenge every day: “How many colors can I eat?”

Vitamin E – A Fire Extinguisher

The brain contains over one-hundred trillion connections between neurons, called synapses. When cells are damaged, unstable atoms called “free radicals” are released. Imagine the brain as a forest, the neurons as trees and the synapses as the root systems. Free radicals are like sparks that burn through the roots one by one until they ignite an unstoppable forest fire. Our firefighter that prevents free radical ignition is Vitamin E. A 2002 study from the Journal of American Medical Association found that low Vitamin E (<5mg) may raise Alzheimer’s risk up to 14 times.

Your best sources are:

• Nuts and seeds
• Green and red vegetables 
• Avocados
• Spinach

Omega-3 Fats – Strength and Happiness

This powerful nutrient is the architect of the brain that builds, shields and constantly re-designs. Omega-3 fats construct the protective layer of neurons and make new neural connections, boosting brain power and slowing down aging. Their anti-inflammatory properties heal cell damage and improve depression and anxiety by transporting the “happy hormone,” serotonin, into the brain. 

Your best sources are:

• Nuts and seeds (especially ground flaxseed, chia seeds, & walnuts)
• Leafy greens and seaweed
• Edamame
• Avocados

B Vitamins – Power Clean

The body creates a metabolic waste that raises inflammation. This contributes to depression, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamins are like powerful bulldozers that scoop up and drive this inflammation out of the body, additionally preventing brain atrophy and advancing cognition! One study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that patients with high Omega-3 and B vitamin intake slowed brain atrophy by 40%!

Your best sources are:

• Fortified plant milks or cereals 
• Broccoli and asparagus
• Whole grains
• Leafy greens
• Bananas
• Beans

Complex Carbohydrates – Fuel

The brain’s preferred fuel is glucose. Unrefined, complex carbohydrates fuel the brain with a steady supply of glucose and transport essential neurotransmitters into the brain. Just ask the early society of Okinawa, Japan, who had the lowest cognitive disease rates and often lived over 100 years! Their secret? Their dietary staple was sweet potatoes, a superfood high in antioxidants, fiber and carbohydrates. 

Your best sources are:

• Whole grains: wheat, oats, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, etc.
• Beans and legumes 
• Sweet potatoes
• Fresh fruits
• Quinoa

Cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s can take up to 20 years to fully develop and can be accelerated by inherited genes. At the time of diagnosis, reversal is often impossible. Early detection and prevention are lifesaving. It is time to think more boldly about nutrition. It could possibly be your secret weapon. Eating what is good for the body is also good for the brain!  If the immediate changes go unnoticed, take heart that you are indeed impacting the future of your brain health.