5 Diet Tips To Help Prevent Alzheimers Disease

1. Eat Fish

Studies have shown that people who regularly eat heart-healthy fish seem to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

It has been found that high amounts of one of the omega-3 faty acids found in salmon, mackerel, and herring - docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - may protect against the memory loss caused by Alzheimer's, even when a person may have Alzheimer's in the advanced stages.

Omega-3 fats are found in salmon, lake trout, sardines, mackerel, albacore tuna, herring, flax oil, and spinach. These fatty acids seem to prevent the build-up of plaques in the brain and they also help the heart.

You can also get some DHA in your diet by eating eggs laid by chickens that have been fed a DHA-supplemented, or by eating do almonds and walnuts, but you'll get the highest amount from eating cold-water fish.

*NOTE: Methylmercury (the organic form of mercury) is a poisonous substance and is in the fish we eat. Larger and older fish such as shark and swordfish contain the highest levels of methylmercury.

People who regularly eat fish have higher levels of methylmercury than those who don't. Pregnant or breastfeeding women who eat a lot of fish put their newborns at risk, because methylmercury can harm a developing baby's brain and nervous system.

Other groups who should watch how much fish they eat are children under the age of 6, people who don't have properly functioning kidneys, and people with sensitive
immune responses to metals.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued health advisories about eating fish because of its methylmercury contamination.

The FDA recommends that pregnant women, nursing mothers and children limit the amount of fish they eat to 12 ounces per week and should avoid shark, swordfish, tilefish (a.k.a. golden bass, golden snapper), and tuna steak (also used in sushi and sashimi).

It is also recommended that pregnant women, nursing mothers and children limit their consumption of canned tuna to no more than one 6-ounce can per week.

If you want to eat the fish that have the lowest levels of methylmercury levels, eat catfish (farmed), blue crab (mid-Atlantic), croaker, fish sticks, flounder (summer), haddock, trout (farmed), salmon (wild Pacific) or shrimp.

2. Eat Berries

Researchers have found that there are beneficial antioxidant compounds in blackcurrants and boysenberries that can block cell damage and help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

These berries contain anthocyanins - which cause the deep colour in blue and purple fruits, and polyphenolics - which can be found in red wine and chocolate.

3. Eat Curry

Researchers at both American and Italian universities have found that curries are good for your brain.

They have found that curcumin, found in turmeric (the yellow colored food flavouring in most curries) can act as a defence against free radicals. Free radicals are known to damage DNA, and damage brain and body cells.

There has been a lot of interest in the diet of the people of India because of the fact that few Indians get Alzheimer's disease. Although this may be influenced by things like shorter life spans and rural areas with less sophisticated health care systems, there is still a significant lack of people with the disease to make research important.

4. Drink Red Wine

Drinking red wine regularly and in moderation has been found to reduce your chances of geting Alzheimer's by up to 50 percent.

Be careful that you don't overdue it though. One to two glasses a day is good. The habit of excessive drinking has been linked to many health problems and alcohol damages brain cells.

5. Drink Fruit and Vegetable Juice

Fruit and vegetable juices have tons of antioxidants in them which are very good for you. Vegetable juices are especially good for you since they have less fructose. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that seniors who drink fruit or vegetable juices at lease three times a week lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 76 percent.