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Boost your brain with food!

Cutting back on saturated fat and refined sugar may do more than lower your risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. It may also cut the risk of developing memory problems that could lead to Alzheimer¡¦s disease.

According to a recent study published in the Archives of Neurology, a diet with low saturated fats and a low glycemic index can reduce the concentration of a protein in the brain that is directly linked to Alzheimer¡¦s disease. And as expected, a diet with high saturated fats and a high glycemic index increased the amount of this protein.

The glycemic index measures how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating carbohydrates. High glycemic foods that cause an immediate spike include white bread and sugar. Low glycemic foods, on the other hand, include brown rice and apples.

The findings in this study indicate that for healthy adults, a diet high in saturated fat, refined starches and sugars can move Alzheimer¡¦s biomarkers in a direction that may reflect a pre-symptomatic stage of the disease. And dietary changes are not as effective at later stages of cognitive impairment.

In other words, now is the time to modify your diet. Start eating a variety of healthy, nutrient-rich foods while minimizing your intake of foods that may harm the brain!

For Perspective, I¡¦m Linda Chu.