Proof that brain health comes from the plate, there is a “close link” between the consumption of processed meat-based foods and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Researchers have found a strong link between Alzheimer’s disease and daily consumption of meat and processed foods.
- “The development of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain begins in middle age, but its effects can be attributed to an uncontrolled lifestyle from an early age,” the authors explain.
- To take care of your brain, it is better to turn to the Mediterranean or DASH diets, for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and be careful to eat enough good fats, vitamins B and E, flavonoids and even fiber.
Processed meat-based foods, particularly popular with ordinary consumers, are not only harmful to our cardiovascular system or our figure, they are also harmful to our brain health. This is confirmed by a new study recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
A strong link between Alzheimer’s and the consumption of meat and processed foods
To arrive at this observation, researchers from Bond University in Australia relied on data from theAustralian Imaging Biomarker and Lifestyle Study of Aging, a study which, since 2006, has followed the same group of people and observed the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease depending on lifestyle. In total, they reviewed the diets of 438 adults, 108 of whom had neurodegenerative disease and 330 who had no apparent health problem.
The team found that people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease tended to regularly eat foods such as meat pies, sausages, ham, pizza and hamburgers – foods high in fat. , sugars and additives. Conversely, they ate fruits and vegetables less often than the others. That said, and this may come as a surprise, their wine consumption was comparatively lower than that of the healthy group.
This study reveals, like others before it, “a strong link between Alzheimer’s disease and daily consumption of meat and processed foods”summarize the researchers in a communicated.
What to eat to protect your brain and stave off cognitive decline?
“The development of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain begins in middle age but its effects can be attributed to an uncontrolled lifestyle from an early age, underlines Tahera Ahmed, lead author of the study. It is therefore essential to educate young people about the benefits of consuming leafy vegetables. [salade, fenouil, épinard, céleri…]organic foods or home-cooked meals, instead of frantically indulging in junk or processed foods.” The researcher points out that such eating habits not only affect brain health, but “also contribute to vascular problems and obesity”.
But what should you eat to better preserve your brain? Previous studies have highlighted the benefits of Mediterranean or DASH diets, for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, but in detail, we must especially remember the importance of good fats (such as those contained in fish such as salmon or sardines), vitamins B (whole grains, eggs, beans, etc.) and E (seeds, nuts, olive oil, etc.), flavonoids (citrus fruits, berries, green vegetables, etc.) and even fiber. So many nutrients that boost cognitive functions, memory, and protect the brain against the risk of dementia.
