We are constantly being reminded of the numbers of people being diagnosed with dementia increasing in Australia, as well as those with Younger Onset Dementia, under 65 years of age.
So is there anything you can do to look after your brain and be able to reduce your risk of dementia? Many people think there is nothing we can do about it, but others think differently and I believe there is a lot we can do.
Our modern lifestyle plays a huge role as to why dementia numbers are increasing, so I believe there are many things you can do about reducing your risk of dementia.
My top 3 Tips to reduce your risk of dementia are ones that you can easily start to implement yourself today.
- Foods to Avoid
The foods to avoid are the ingredients found in packaged food. These particular ingredients have been added to many foods and drinks found on the supermarket shelves and so you always need to read the list of Ingredients on any processed packaged food and drink product you intend to buy. The main ingredients to avoid are
- Aspartame coded 950, 951 – an artificial sweetener
- MSG – Monosodium Glutamate –coded 621 – a flavour enhancer
- Fructose – also known as High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS.
Aspartame and MSG are excito-toxins which cause brain cells to become over-stimulated, causing brain cells to die. Latest research studies prove that Fructose alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.
- Eat Good Foods for your Brain
The old saying is true – “you are what you eat”. The best way you can protect your brain is to eat the foods your brain loves. These foods are full of antioxidants that help to improve your circulation and the supply of oxygen to your brain. These are :
- Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
- Leafy greens especially Spinach and Kale
- Nuts especially Walnuts and Almonds
- Exercise
Physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain. Research is showing that exercise can reduce stress, boost your mood, improve your memory and increase energy. The Mayo Clinic states that when you do regular exercise throughout the week, it keeps reasoning, thinking and learning skills sharp in healthy people and improves memory, reasoning and judgement skills in those with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
When you know what you can do to avoid your risk, then that is one big step in a positive direction. So why not start today and be proactive to improve your memory and brain health.
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