Food for thought: Eat to save your brain

Grin 'N' Bare It
by Kay Grafe

I can almost guarantee that you will relate to this column, Mississippi—as well as France, Germany, Spain, and the entire United States.

I won’t discuss the history of Valentine’s Day or tell you that it’s the second-largest card-sending day in the U.S. More than 140 million are sent each year.

Nor will I write this column in my tongue-in-cheek style. This is a serious subject.

The reason I mentioned the foreign countries is because my information comes from dependable, trustworthy scientists at Harvard University and other renowned universities where neuroscientists spend their lives studying this complicated problem. These professionals exchange information from around the world.

My topic is about the major health fear—after cancer—of the four Western countries I mentioned above. The fear is Alzheimer’s disease. Or, dementia.

I realize this is a worrisome topic to read or talk about. Therefore, I’ll say up front there’s a way to help bypass the disease and preserve a healthy mind. Many of us are getting older—that is, older than 50 or 60, the ages many develop this horrific disease. But today I’ll give you information on “how to save your brain.”

That’s on my list of New Year’s Resolutions.

One source of my research is the February issue of Psychology Today magazine. It took a while to examine other studies on the subject and decide on one particular report to use on dementia. But the article “How to Save Your Brain” in the magazine is easier for you to find and read the details. I’m not qualified to clarify the research.

More than 45 percent of Americans are under the impression that there is an effective treatment, but the medication used today is not a cure, according to the article. It may or may not delay the inevitable.

The only way we can prevent or stall our loss of brain power is by eating “specific food.” Those who don’t develop the disease are already eating these nutrients, or they are immune.

Here we go again! Are you tired of hearing “we are what we eat”? In this case I believe it’s worth eating for brain health. The book, which I haven’t bought yet but is next on my list, is called “Your Brain on Food” by neuroscientist Gary Wenk. He’s a professor at Ohio State University and holds many impressive titles.

Here are some suggestions:

We need a diet rich in antioxidants found in colorful fruits and vegetables—compounds like A, C and E, beta carotene and spice in chili peppers. These help keep cells from showing the wear and tear of living. A few that contain large amounts of antioxidants are blueberries, broccoli, grapes, prunes, strawberries, spinach, artichokes and apples. Also herbs: rosemary, turmeric, thyme and oregano. Turmeric is in curry, a staple in Indian cooking. The incidence of Alzheimer’s in India is one-sixth of that in the U.S.

Wenk says that vitamin supplements offer little protection against Alzheimer’s.

When we eat big meals loaded with high glycemic food (simple sugar carbohydrates), it undermines the insulin system, which plays a major part in brain health.

Guess what the big meal of the day should be? Yes, we’ve heard that breakfast is important to keep us healthy. After several hours of sleep the brain is running low on glucose. We need glucose in our brain cells for cognition and self-control. Cognition is the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding.

Take a breather here. I’m giving myself a lecture, not you. I’ll admit much of my time is spent looking for keys, coffee cup, shoes. And a person’s name doesn’t pop into my head as quickly as it use to. I don’t know about you, but my memory isn’t A-plus anymore. I’m determined to get back on the President’s list! Even if I have to eat liver.

Back to lecturing. Here’s an example of breakfast food for the brain:

• Complex carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, whole grain bagel, grapefruit or low-fat yogurt

• An antioxidant, perhaps orange juice

• Protein, such as eggs or turkey sausage.

Add coffee or tea. They contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Coffee protects your brain against aging by reducing the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease or dementia.

Eat less! Wenk reports that the leading cause of preventable death in the world is obesity. It can also lead to dementia.

The good news is that Alzheimer’s disease may be preventable, according to these latest studies. Check into this information and get the details. There is much, much more.

At the moment I’m out of glucose. Think I’ll find a couple of squares of 72 percent dark chocolate to eat (it’s allowed) and watch Dr. Oz.

Write me and we’ll all do this brain thing together. Let’s form a support group.

Note: I’ll try not to be serious for the next few months.

Write Kay Grafe at 2142 Fig Farm Road, Lucedale, MS 39452, or e-mail kaygrafe@bellsouth.net.