It’s never too late to adopt a few new healthy eating habits. Consuming the right foods and eliminating harmful ones can boost production of neurotransmitters, guard against degeneration, and offer valuable nutrition to support the health of your neurons.
Overhauling a diet can be disruptive, stressful, and most of the time it’s just too hard to maintain. When trying anything new, it’s important to set yourself up for success by adopting new habits slowly. Here are a few things you can do today to support brain health long-term with a healthy diet:
Try herbs
Table salt is often the first dietary “no-no” imposed by doctors on seniors. Eating only bland food is a sad reality for many people struggling with restrictions due to medical conditions. Herbs (dried or fresh) are easy to get at any grocery store and really amp of the flavor of salt-free food. Try a few until you find one you really enjoy.
Herbs are also easy to grow and care for at home. Rosemary survives even the harshest winter in a sunny windowsill. Basil loves the hot weather and direct sunlight. Sage is the star of the garden in hot and dry climates and is even perennial in some areas.
Get lutelin from celery, carrots, and peppers
Neurodegeneration caused by inflammation in the brain is calmed by lutelin. This important plant compound is abundant in celery, peppers, parsley, and carrots.
This particular flavonoid is an anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant. Researchers at The University of Illinois report that lutelin disrupts the complicated inflammation process of microglia, which are important to the body’s immune system.
Seek vitamin B12 in crab and red meat
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause low scores on cognitive tests and some studies show that it causes actual brain shrinkage. Just one serving of crab has offers a solid dose of brain-supporting vitamin B12. Grass-fed beef is more than a foodie-fad. It has high levels of this crucial nutrient and also offers high levels of healthy fats essential for brain health.
Losing brain power isn’t an automatic part of aging. Lifestyle strategies, including dietary choices, have a great effect on how the brain ages. Promoting regrowth of brain cells and supporting overall brain health is an important part of happiness as we age.
Reducing carbohydrate consumption, eliminating processed sugar, and reducing salt intake are common instructions handed down by medical doctors. Knowing how to replace those elements of a diet with brain supporting foods puts us well on the way to a healthier brain and better overall quality of life.