What is the MIND Diet and Is It Worth Trying?

Did you know that your brain health could be affected by how you eat? The risk of Alzheimer’s among older adults was reduced by the MIND diet, according to a 2015 study. It was found to lower the risk by 53% for people who followed the strict diet, and by 35% for those who followed it more loosely.

What is the magic MIND diet?

MIND stands to Mediterranean-DASH Intervention For Neurodegenerative Delay. It is basically a combination of DASH and the Mediterranean diet.

DASH was developed to lower blood pressure. Whole foods are emphasized, such as fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and lean meats. This diet aims to reduce processed foods, especially fast food, and to limit sodium intake to approximately 2,000 mg daily.

Because it reflects the Mediterranean lifestyle, the Mediterranean diet was named. The diet is mainly vegetarian, healthy fats, whole grains and seafood. This diet restricts red meat, sugar, and milk.

The combination of DASH with Mediterranean will give you MIND. This diet has been shown to be the best for cognitive health. Let’s talk more about the MIND diet, and how it can save your brain.

What does the MIND diet do for brain health?

The MIND diet promotes foods that are thought to improve cognitive health. Your brain will reap the benefits of eating these foods primarily or exclusively.

The MIND diet includes a lot plant-based food, including berries and leafy vegetables. Studies have shown that blueberries and strawberries can help prevent cognitive aging. The MIND diet, which focuses on greens like kale, spinach, and other vegetables, has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stresses, which can be important in Alzheimer’s disease.

When your body doesn’t have enough antioxidants or is unable resist free radicals, you are called oxidative stress. This can lead to stress that can cause damage to your brain and other cells throughout your body. It has been proven that oxidative stress can lead to many different problems, including cancer and Alzheimer’s.

What foods can we eat with the MIND diet

The MIND diet, as mentioned above, focuses on plant-based food with some lean meat added.

These are the top foods that you can eat as part of this diet.

• Vegetables with green leaves
• Berries
• Beans
• Whole grains
• Fish
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Olive Oil
• Nuts

High cholesterol foods such as red meats, butter, milk, sugar and processed foods should be avoided as much as possible.

Do you find this diet more difficult or easier than others?

Many diets restrict you from eating a limited number of foods. The MIND diet, however, allows you to eat many different foods as long as it is primarily plant-based and whole foods.

This diet does not require you to eat a strict diet or calorie counting. You can still enjoy your favorite foods, but only in moderation.

Another benefit of the MIND diet is that it doesn’t have to be followed exactly. You can be more strict and have a 53% lower risk of developing the disease. Additionally, your cognitive ability will be 7 1/2 years older than those who don’t follow the diet.

Wouldn’t it be great if our brains were 7 1/2 years younger?

Do you need to exercise while following the MIND diet?

Although exercise isn’t a part of a healthy diet, it can be incorporated into your daily life to improve your brain health.

Because movement increases blood flow to your brain, this is possible because you move your body. Your brain receives the nutrients it needs in order to continue doing its job well. For the best brain health, combine regular exercise with the MIND diet.

What other benefits are there to the MIND diet?

The Mayo Clinic says that DASH diets can improve your cognitive health and lower blood pressure. The diet could also lower LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad,” cholesterol. These two factors combined make the MIND diet a lower risk diet for stroke and heart disease.

What are you waiting for? Perhaps a steak once a week? This seems like a small price. It is easy to incorporate the MIND diet into your daily life and to stick with it. As long as you don’t let things get out of control, you can still have fun. The benefits are amazing.