WELLNESS - Power Foods for the Brain: Discussion with Dr. Neal Barnard

Power Foods for the Brain: Discussion with Dr. Neal Barnard

By Kimatni D. Rawlins

Are you losing your car keys a little too often or having memory lapses more frequently than previously? Are you concerned that a severe memory problem like Alzheimer's disease could be in your future? Financially, the condition is a disaster. Residential care and medical costs for a person with dementia can easily reach $70,000 annually. But the personal costs are incalculable.
I recently sat down with and interviewed the well-respected Dr. Neal Barnard, a clinical researcher and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) at his offices in Washington, DC. Fresh off a show tour with Dr. OZ and Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Barnard discussed his new book "Power Foods for the Brain" which highlights vital steps for preventing degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The author of 15 books and a host of three PBS television specials, Dr. Barnard's research has already revolutionized the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. Focused on plant-based nutrition, the Doctor chats about the negative impact of meat, dairy, GMOs, and supplements on the body. He emphasizes that countless research has proven that a diet based on veggies, fruits, legumes, and whole grains is the better choice for the extension of life. Here are a few highlights of the conversation:

• Of course, he recommends that everyone begin eating a healthy diet.
• Studies show people who eat high saturated and trans fat diets are more likely to develop Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's later in life.
• One ounce of nuts and seeds provides 5mg of Vitamin E. Pills do no have the same antioxidant benefit.
• Folate (B vitamins) found in leafy greens, bananas, and more are essential to our biochemistry. For example, Folate helps rid Homocysteine from the brain.
• 2.4 mcg of Vitamin B12 and 2000 IU of Vitamin D (if you don't get it from the sun) are the only two vitamins we need to supplement.
• Blueberries improve cognitive function. We should eat more foods that give us natural antioxidant protection such as berries.
• Okinawa has more people living past 100 years old than anywhere else in the world. The dietary staple is not fish or rice, but sweet potatoes!
• It is imperative to get your heart pumping through physical activity at least 40 minutes per day. Overall fitness will help reverses brain shrinkage.
• Exercise the brain with mental activity like reading or word games for stimulation. Lumosity.com has online cognitive training programs.
• Get some rest. Night owls have lower energy and brain function the next day since Amyloid production does not subside until you fall asleep.

New hope has arrived in recent years, as researchers have begun to tease apart the connections between foods and brain health. In 2003, researchers with the Chicago Health and Aging Project reported a groundbreaking discovery. After carefully analyzing the diets of thousands of people while tracking their health, it turned out that one particular impediment -- saturated fat -- found in dairy products, meat, and certain oils, was strongly linked to risks of developing Alzheimer's disease. More importantly, people who tended to steer clear of this kind of fat cut their risk of Alzheimer's disease by two-thirds, compared to people eating more significant amounts of it. Trans fats, found in snack pastries and fried foods, also increased risk. But diets rich in vitamin E reduced risk by as much as 70 percent in some groups. Other research reports have shown that foods that are overly rich in Iron or Copper can promote cognitive loss. In contrast, certain micronutrients like Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and others may help protect memory.

In “Power Foods for the Brain,” Dr. Barnard presents the findings of the latest research on foods and the brain, showing how simple diet changes can make an enormous difference. We suggest you pick up this book immediately to begin the journey to a healthier you! 

Dr. Barnard is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, Board-Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, his research revolutionized the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. His new work aims to put the findings of the study to work to prevent risks to brain health. He is the author of 15 books and a host of three PBS television specials.h
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