Protect Your Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention

Adopt a Healthy Diet

Eating a heart-healthy diet benefits both your body and your brain. In general, this is a diet that is lower in saturated fats. Research in the area of the relationship between diet and cognitive functioning is somewhat limited, but it does point to the benefits of two diets in particular: the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and the Mediterranean diet. These diets can help reduce heart disease and may also be able to reduce risk of dementia.

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
• Mediterranean diet

This DASH diet aims to reduce blood pressure:

• Eat foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy.
• Consume whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts.
• Decrease your intake of fats, red meats, sweets, sugared beverages and sodium.

The Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet incorporates different principles of healthy eating that are typically found in the areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea:

• Focus on fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains.
• Replace butter with healthy fats, like olive oil.
• Limit red meat.
• Use herbs to flavor food rather than salt.
• Eat fish and poultry at least twice a week.