Washington, US (BBN) - Eating the right foods does more than whittle your waistline - it pays off with powerful benefits for your brain.
New research, unveiled at the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) annual conference, suggests that certain natural foods may stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, reports Times of India.
Key nutrients are the power players, helping keep brain cells healthy and potentially preventing brain-damaging inflammation.
Several natural foods have emerged as potential allies in improving brain health.
1. MAPLE SYRUP
A new study found that an extract of pure maple syrup from Canada may help prevent the misfolding and clumping of two types of proteins found in brain cells - beta amyloid and tau peptide.
When cellular proteins fold improperly and clump together, they accumulate and form plaque that is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
2. BLUEBERRIES
Recent findings suggest that supplementation with flavonoid - rich blueberry offers the possibility of risk reduction in the advance of dementia.
3. EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
A naturally occurring phenolic compound in extra virgin olive oil, called oleocanthahl, might have the potential to prevent and/or hold the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by targeting multiple pathological processes associated with the disease.
4. CURCUMIN
A study found that healthy older individuals that were given a curcumin supplement had improved working memory and attention based on the results of a series of cognitive tests.
5. WALNUTS
New research on mice found that supplementation with walnuts showed improvement in memory, learning skills and motor development, compared to the group that did not receive the walnuts.
6. POMEGRANATE EXTRACT
Recent studies show that pomegranate extract, which is a rich source of disease - fighting polyphenols, can help protect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. So, having a pomegranate daily is indeed beneficial.
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