What if certain foods could help us remember? Without allowing you to learn the entire penal code in one night, here are the few ingredients which, in the long term, could improve your memory, or even fight against Alzheimer’s.
A good heart for a good memory
According to Rémy Genthon, scientific director of the Alzheimer Research Foundation, interviewed by our colleagues at I’m interested, a good memory actually requires good cardiovascular health. A well-vascularized brain is one that functions quickly and efficiently, and therefore will record more information.
Foods for better cardiovascular health
Added to a balanced diet, certain foods are cited by Futura Sciences as real weapons against problems of the heart. Among them, fruits rich in antioxidants such as blueberries or pomegranates, but also fatty fish filled with omega 3 (such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies or sardines). We can also find these same omega 3s in nuts and nuts.
More vitamins for better memory
At the same time, a study published by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition argued last March that vitamin supplementation would have a positive impact on memory in the longer term. According to the first author, Chirag Yvas, of the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, “a daily multivitamin supplement could be an attractive and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging”, the phenomenon responsible for progressive memory loss. Among the supplements cited in the study: vitamins C, B, D and E, folic acid and iron.
Foods rich in vitamins, iron and folic acid
Spinach, no offense to Popeye, does not contain the iron content that has long been attributed to it. On the other hand, like other leafy green vegetables, they are rich in vitamin C and folic acid. Lentils and other legumes contain iron, just like red meat, while the other sought-after vitamins are hidden in the flesh of colorful fruits and vegetables (strawberries, kiwis, peppers, etc.).
Diet and Alzheimer’s disease
Regarding Alzheimer’s disease, Rémy Genthon, of the Alzheimer Research Foundation, declares that when the patient is at the stage where neuronal destruction is observed, “it is too late. We cannot rest the neurons […] there is not much left to do”. On the other hand, good lifestyle habits adopted early could delay the onset of the first symptoms. Among these habits: regular sporting activity, “working your brain from a young age”, but also optimizing your cardiovascular health, particularly through diet.
