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An old adage says, “You are what you eat”.
I never could figure out what that saying really meant, other than concluding it must mean that what we eat will ultimately reflect a lot about ourselves. Consider for example the diets that Asian people follow and consider their body characteristics and mental acuity overall. When you compare this culture to the dietary habits and outcome of North American’s, the validity of dietary effects becomes clearer.
Studies on the effects of diet and health are countless, but one I found interesting had to do with diet and its impact on memory. For the many seniors who worry about their natural decline in memory abilities it is worthy of implementing.
Conducted by Utah State University in the United States, a study followed 3,000 people aged 65 and older for an 11 year period. Initially no participants displayed any signs of dementia. Over the course of the study this changed, however the subjects who showed the least mental decline were those whose diets resembled a low-fat, high-fiber (DASH) diet. Dash is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH is a diet commonly used to combat high blood pressure, which is one of the risk factors for dementia.
By the end of the study this group scored higher on memory, attention span, and problem solving skills. It may not be rock science but it is at least something that people can easily put into place on their own accord. The basic tenets of following a DASH diet makes sense, and although researchers haven’t figured it all out, there is enough evidence so far to suggest that eating an overall heart-healthy diet is a smart protective measure against dementia. It’s worth a try.
The DASH Diet
• Whole grains (at least three whole-grain foods per day)
• Low-fat or fat-free dairy products
• Nuts, seeds, and beans
• Vegetables and fruit. (Up to 8 servings a day)
• Fish and poultry; minimal lean red meat
• Limited fats and sweets
• Minimal sodium (slow down that salt shaker)