Retirement health: Foods that minimize Alzheimer’s risk
“Stuff You Should Know” is one of my favorite podcasts. Hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, the show educates you on the basics of just about any topic in around 30 minutes.
I was listening to the episode on coffee recently when Josh mentioned that one of the side effects of a good cup of Joe is that it can help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
As I’m sure you know, Alzheimer’s is one of those nasty diseases where we don’t really understand the cause and there is no cure. One in 8 older Americans has Alzheimer’s and it’s the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Nothing can ruin retirement faster than a fatal diagnosis, so if there’s something I can do to minimize my chances of getting an incurable, brain-wasting disease, I’m all ears.
While there is no silver bullet, foods that are high in certain vitamins (B, C, D, and E), antioxidants, monounsaturated fats and Omega 3s have all shown some effectiveness in minimizing the risk of Alzheimer’s. Here are some things to add to your diet from each category:
Foods high in antioxidants and/or Vitamins B, C, D, E,
- Beans
- Citrus
- Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
- Artichokes
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Coffee
Monounsaturated Fats
- Macadamia nuts
- Almonds
- Avocados
- Olive oil
Omega 3s
- Fish (e.g. Salmon)
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
Eat up!
~ Joe