Ten types of foods are recommended highly to prevent the risk of dementia. Foods and drinks help prevent dementia. The diet also affects the risk of developing heart disease and stroke, which are in turn risk factors for dementia.
Too much saturated fat in the diet can contribute to high cholesterol levels, too much salt can result in high blood pressure (hypertension), and too much sugar raises the risk of type 2 diabetes. These conditions are also associated with an increased risk of dementia. Dietary fats: While a low-fat diet is recommended for good health, there are ‘bad’ fats that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and dementia, and there are ‘good’ fats that have been associated with protective effects for the heart and the brain.
‘Bad’ fats: Studies have shown that people with high intakes of saturated and trans (which occur in hydrogenated vegetable oils) fats in their diet have a higher risk of developing dementia, while people with a diet that favors unsaturated, unhydrogenated fats have a lower risk. Saturated and trans fats increase levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and reduce levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This increases the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and stroke, as well as increasing the risk of dementia.
High levels of LDL cholesterol may contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the production of beta-amyloid protein, which is one of the chemicals that causes damage to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. Foods high in saturated fat include butter, lard, meat, full-fat dairy products, coconut oil, palm oil, and chocolate. Trans fats are used widely in some fast food, snack foods, fried foods, and commercially baked goods like cakes and biscuits. These processed foods can also be high in salt and/or sugar. Try to limit the intake of these foods and choose low-fat varieties wherever possible.
