Healthy Diet for August 28 – Forget It, Okay?

Do your glasses, keys, or shoes hide? Need to jot things down so you don’t forget? Short memory lapses probably aren’t a first sign of Alzheimer’s. More likely, it’s normal aging. You lose neuron-to-neuron links even in young adulthood. But if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s, talk to your physician.

Can nutrition help prevent forgetful moments? Perhaps, but so far research can’t offer definitive advice. Some B vitamins may play a role. Experts advise B vitamin-rich foods, not supplements: green leafy vegetables, legumes, grain foods, milk, meat, and fortified breads and cereals. Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables may help keep nerve cells healthy. As for ginkgo biloba for healthy people, there’s not enough reliable research to know if it helps.

To keep mentally sharp as you age:

• Do mental gymnastics. Read a challenging book. Add numbers mentally. Unfamiliar tasks and new ways of thinking may develop underused brain connections.
• Eat smarter. Nourish your brain with nutrient-rich foods.
• Manage your health. Any health problem that disrupts blood low to your brain affects thinking and memory. That includes diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
• Stay physically active; fit in aerobic activity. That keeps blood vessels open so oxygen gets to the brain for normal function.
• Sleep enough; reduce stress. A memory lapse may really be fatigue or disorganization!