Healthy Diet Tips for Seniors

A healthy lifestyle and, of course, a healthy brain both depend on good diet.  But a disclaimer is necessary for this topic.  After all, there are many different perspectives on what "excellent" nutrition looks like.  This is due to the fact that scientific research on nutrition frequently conflict with one another and result in the unwarranted promotion or stigmatization of specific foods or nutrients.

The issue, according to FiveThirtyEight, is that many different types of nutritional research are intrinsically vulnerable to statistical error and shoddy analysis, making it hard or impossible to draw conclusive conclusions from them.  (They frequently rely on food questionnaires or diaries in which research participants are required to track, recall, or self-report exactly what they've had over a specific period of time, which is much harder than you might think.

Having said that, the majority of licensed dietitians appear to concur that the optimal diet for a healthy body and brain is one that is based on:

• Have fun with a rainbow of fruit and vegetable varieties
• Lean protein sources
• Wholesome fats (such as extra virgin olive oil)
• Unrefined whole grains

Many experts advise drinking lots of water, avoiding fried foods, red meat, refined sweets, and foods that have undergone extensive processing, in order to protect your memory.  One glass of red wine maximum per day may also be beneficial.  Here are a few further examples of foods that may be beneficial for memory or cognition:

• Blackberries, blueberries, and cherries
• Dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and others
• Coffee (in moderation) (in moderation)
• Dark chocolate (with at least 60-percent cocoa)
• Walnuts and almonds
• Squash seeds
• Cabbage
• Avocados with Broccoli
• Turmeric