Benefits of a Heart-Friendly Mediterranean Diet

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

AgeSong BSP will be changing to a more healthful (Mediterranean) diet. A heart-friendly diet consisting of fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and beans reduced Alzheimer’s risk by 34 to 48 percent in studies conducted by Columbia University. Studies suggest that people who eat the most fruits and vegetables, especially leafy-greens, may experience a slower rate of cognitive decline and a lower risk for dementia than meat eaters.
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Even the Department  of Agriculture is now on the side of plant-based diets.  Its “Dietary Guidelines” say “vegetarian-style eating patterns have been associated with improved health outcomes” (NYTimes 3/11/12).

Dr Mehmet Oz claims that only 30 percent of our health issues are the result of our genes. The other 70 percent are the result  of our lifestyle, mainly diet and exercise. One of the main culprits in the American diet is added sugar(or high  fructose corn syrup) which should be eliminated.

Common health challenges, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, are often associated with dementia.  Laura Fratiglioni, director of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute’s Aging Research Center, says, “For those with mild cognitive impairment, good control of diabetes can delay the onset of dementia by several years.”

Spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, oregano, basil, parsley, ginger, and vanilla are high in antioxidants, which may build brainpower. Some believe that East Indians have lower incidence of Alzheimer’s because they flavor their foods with curcumin, which reduces amyloid plaques and lowers inflammation levels responsible for some diseases.. Cinnamon is known to improve glucose metabolism.

Some older individuals may not be able to eat certain foods because of other problems and they will have to modify their diet accordingly. As you try various new foods, it is important to heed your doctor’s orders regarding diet and exercise and to take prescribed medications on schedule. Eventually, proper diet may get you to the point of not needing some of your medications. (based on nutritional findings published in AARP The Magazine, September-October 2011).

For those who want to learn more about heart-friendly diets, view the following news clips:

• A new study published by Harvard researchers provides “clear evidence that regular consumption of red meat, especially processed meat [such as bacon or hot dogs], contributes substantially to premature death,” according to lead author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, in a press release. MORE…
• Could your breakfast be doing wonders for your figure while wreaking havoc on your face? In this series, Monica Waters takes  on 6 of the most popular diets (fad and otherwise) to reveal the eating habits that are best—and worst—for your skin. Get ready for glowing skin and a healthy body. MORE…
• Low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with smaller brain volume and poorer performance on tests of mental acuity, even in people without apparent dementia, according to a new study. MORE…
• Chinese women who ate cabbage, broccoli and leafy greens saw improved survival rates after breast cancer than women who did not eat these cruciferous vegetables, said a US study presented on Tuesday. MORE…
• The food you eat may have a lot to do with how healthy your brain stays as you age, according to the latest nutritional research. People in their late 80s with higher blood levels of B-complex vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, as well as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, showed less mental impairment and brain shrinkage typical of Alzheimer’s disease. MORE…
• (CBS News) Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, believes the high amount of sugar in the American diet, much of it in processed foods, is killing us. MORE…
• Get the latest on the link between sugar and obesity from Dr. Lustig and his UCSF colleagues in the UCTV Prime series “The Skinny on Obesity.”  MORE…
• New research published this month shows that fewer older Americans are developing macular degeneration — a major cause of vision loss and even blindness in older men and women. And the study suggests that a healthier diet — including leafy green vegetables and fish — could be one of the factors responsible for the decrease. MORE…

View video: Three Steps To Incredible Health! Joel Fuhrman, MD.

Also view Joel Fuhrman, MD’s Food Pyramid:

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