These Miracle Foods Have the Power to Decrease Your Dementia Risk

Dementia is a terrifying and debilitating disease. Luckily, there are ways to decrease your risk of diagnosis — this can be as easy as changing the foods you eat. Maintaining a diet containing the following foods is the first step in decreasing your dementia risk.

Red wine

Go ahead and pour yourself a nice glass of red. | CarlosAndreSantos/iStock/Getty Images

The Mediterranean diet is tapped as being one of the healthiest fads out there, and it can go a long way to help you decrease your dementia risk as well. Red wine, one of the diet’s staples, has properties that can keep your brain sharp. Resveratrol, a plant-based property found in red wine, has been linked to both brain and heart health.

The key is to only have one glass a day — a wine buzz surely isn’t going to do your memory any good.

Omega 3s

Grilled salmon with lime on a wooden board.

A delicious dinner that will protect your brain. | Jaroszpilewski/iStock/Getty Images

In addition to the good it does for your waistline, omega 3 fatty acids are also great for your noggin. The chemical is heavily concentrated in the brain, and is responsible for memory and cognitive function. So go ahead — eat as much salmon, avocado, and olive oil as you can!

Leafy greens

Spinach should always be in your fridge. | Vkuslandia/iStock/Getty Images Plus

You should probably stop sticking your nose up at kale — it can help you fight off dementia! Dark leafy greens contain proteins that help cognitive function and ward off aging in the brain. Kale and it’s more likable counterpart, spinach, contain a brain-power product called lutein, which stockpiles in your brain over your lifespan. (So the more greens you eat, the better your brain will be!)

Beans and legumes

A pot of beans will do you a lot of good. | Piyaset/iStock/Getty Images

Folate, magnesium, and B vitamins are what make these foods so good for combating dementia. Cleveland Clinic recommends trying to get a small serving of legumes into your diet every day — like tossing beans into a salad.

Berries

Strawberry halves laid out on a white table.

Stock up on those fresh berries. | iStock.com

Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries … They all contain high levels of antioxidants that help protect brain cells from the aging process. Berries also help the different neurons in the brain communicate with each other, according to WedMD.

Whole grains

Sliced bread on a white cloth and basket next to a sharp knife.

Whole grain foods will keep your belly happy and full. | iStock.com

Surely you’ve heard that eating whole grains for breakfast, like oatmeal or wheat toast, will keep you fuller for longer. But whole grains also give you more sustainable energy, so you can stay mentally alert and focused throughout your day. So naturally, eating more whole grains can go a long way to keeping your dementia risk low.

The spice rack

Spices add flavor … and lower your risk of dementia. | iStock/Getty Images

Studies in recent years have found that certain spices, particularly in Indian cuisine, can help fight off radical proteins that damage the brain and ward off dementia. Curry, turmeric, and cinnamon are just a few staples in your spice rack that can go a long way to slowing the aging process of your brain.