7 Foods to Boost Your Brain Health

More than half a million Canadians have a diagnosis of dementia, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. In just 15 years, that number will surpass 900,000. While dementia cannot be cured, researchers are increasingly convinced that what we choose to eat may help protect our brains. Here are seven foods that show promise. Salmon Eating fatty fish like salmon regularly appears to lower the risk of dementia as you age. (If you aren’t a fan of salmon, you can get the same effect from mackerel, herring, sardines or trout.) These fish are high in omega-3, a fat that is essential for our brains to function properly, yet almost exclusively must come from our diets. Should you skip the fish dish and take an omega-3 supplement instead? Right now, the evidence for the oil alone is less compelling, so go for the whole food. You’ll get the most benefit from salmon if you avoid frying or grilling it, as the by-products from these cooking processes can increase your Alzheimer’s risk. RELATED RECIPES: What a Catch! 6 Tasty Salmon Recipes Pomegranate A 2016 study led in Australia by the University of New South Wales’ Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing has found that pomegranate can defend the brain against cognitive decline – in mice, at least. Researchers saw several positive kinds of brain responses, including reduced inflammation, in mice that received pomegranate extract in their diets. Other animal research has also suggested the antioxidant content of pomegranate can help preserve brain health. Studies in humans are underway, including one with pomegranate juice at the Longevity Center at University of California, Los Angeles. RELATED RECIPE: Leafy greens This may explain why Popeye is still going strong at almost 90: Eating spinach, kale, collards and other dark green, leafy vegetables appears to slow […]

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