Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/620610
National Catholic Forester 10 National Catholic Forester 10 10 Is it OK to eat your burgers and fries as long as they come with a hearty helping of salad and blueberries on the side? Research suggests when it comes to brain health, a heart- healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and fish is best for fending off cognitive decline. But study participants who ate a mix of healthy foods and less-healthy foods – including red and processed meats, sugar, and beer – still fared better on brain tests over a six year period compared to those who ate diets heavy on less-healthy foods. The latest study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, analyzed the diets of more than 2,200 older adults from Sweden, comparing what they ate with their cognitive function over six years. The participants, aged 60 and up, were dementia-free at the start of the study. At that time, they were asked to answer a questionnaire about their diets, including how often and how much they ate of 98 different foods and beverages over the previous 12 months. The researchers grouped the participants based on their diet patterns and how strongly they adhered to a "Western" diet or what was dubbed a "prudent" diet. "Western" eaters consumed more red and processed meats, and more foods with saturated and trans-fats, refined grains, sugar, beer, and liquor. The "prudent" eaters more frequently ate vegetables, fruits, cooking/dressing oil, cereals and legumes, whole grains, rice and pasta, fish, low-fat dairy, poultry, and drank water. The participants also underwent cognitive testing at the start of the study and again three years and then six years into the research. Individuals with the highest adherence to a "prudent" diet and who were less likely to eat a "Western" style diet IMAGES DESIGNED BY FREEPIC Can you have YOUR CAKE ... and protect brain health, too?