You already know the Mediterranean diet — rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and fish — is excellent for heart health.
But new research shows that eating this style isn’t just for your heart — it also offers another major benefit: a slower rate of cognitive decline.
That’s right — the Mediterranean diet could be the very thing to deliver a one-two punch to keep your ticker AND your thinker going.
Participants in the study had an average age of 75.4 years and were enrolled in the Chicago Health and Aging Project, an ongoing study of people aged 65 and older. They completed cognitive function tests at 3-year intervals.
The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, show that people who most closely adhered to the diet had brains "years younger" than people who didn’t dine from the Mediterranean menu.
The researchers behind the study say the mechanisms are pretty clear. The foods in the Mediterranean diet reduce markers of oxidative stress and reduce the inflammation that plays a role in both heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
People eating a Mediterranean diet also had lower rates of stroke, hypertension, and depression.
Ms. O’Brien has written for Nutrition & Healing, Healthier Talk and a variety of other natural and alternative health outlets. She believes in the power of natural medicine and her goal is to open people’s eyes to the benefits of alternative and integrative medicine.
Christine is passionate about helping people help themselves without having to turn to harsh drugs or invasive surgeries.
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