There is not one single food or nutrient that magically improves or maintains our brain health on its own. Rather, it’s the combination of foods that we eat over time, and the nutrients we get from those foods, that influence our health- and our brain health! This combination of foods is sometimes called our eating pattern.
Choosing foods that are full of nutrients most often, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and seafood, nuts and seeds, low fat dairy products, and lean protein foods, can support our brain health and our overall health!
The Mediterranean Diet and MIND Diet are two eating patterns that research has found may reduce our risk for developing cognitive decline and dementia.
The Mediterranean diet, or Mediterranean eating pattern, reflects the traditional eating pattern of the people who lived in areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea.
The Mediterranean eating pattern includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, fish and seafood, legumes, and olive oil
The MIND Diet features combines features of the Mediterranean Eating Pattern and the DASH Diet, a heart healthy eating pattern. The MIND diet features vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, and fruits, especially berries. The MIND diet also includes whole grain foods, beans and peas, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and at least one serving of fish.
