Did you know eating a Mediterranean diet stops Alzheimer's disease and brain shrinkage? The Los
Angeles Time reported on Oct. 21 that the brain shrinks in old age (that's why the elderly slow down
and suffer memory loss associated with Alzheimer's). But happily, you can slow aging by eating more
fish, less meat and other brain food swaps on the Mediterranean diet. Following the Mediterranean
diet helps with weight loss, heart health and a bunch of other condition, too. Here are more brain
food swaps to slow aging, lose weight and improve health. One thing that deters people from starting new diets is that they are afraid they'll have to eat weird
things or buy expensive "diet" food. That's what's cool about the Mediterranean diet: it features
common, simple foods, sourced locally and simply prepared. Senior citizens aren't known for liking
new foods. They like foods they ate it as kids. And that's what the Mediterranean diet is: lots of
vegetables, legumes (think soup beans), whole grain cereals (oatmeal), fish and monounsaturated
fatty acids like olive oil (instead of transfat or saturated fats). And the old folks love it because it isn't
processed junk food. It's homemade like mama used to make. And those elderly people tested who
ate a brain food Mediterranean diet had larger brain volumes than those who didn't.
Here are other Alzheimer's busting Mediterranean diet food swaps. Eat light, whole grain 35-calorie
per slice bread over regular bread. Regular bread has a shocking 2-3 times as many calories as diet
bread. Diet bread loses calories, high fructose corn syrup, transfat and sodium, but retains fiber and
fatty acids (essential brain food to lose weight and slow aging). Eat flaxseed, chia seed, almonds and
oatmeal instead of cereal or toast for breakfast.
Drink lowfat milk, not skim (too little good fat) or
whole milk (too much fat). Trade butter and mayo for olive oil margarine and mayonnaise. Use
avocados instead of spreads, milk, eggs, oil and fats, even in baking.
Greek yogurt doesn't just slow aging, it can stop Alzheimer's in its tracks! Greek yogurt is super
healthy, with antioxidants, probiotics and acidophilous, plus it has double protein. Make Greek yogurt
smoothies. Add fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit, apples, melon or bananas.
Walmart's 4-pound frozen blend of strawberries, peaches, mangoes and pineapple has only 70
calories per cup. Add an Emergen-C packet (for metabolism boosting, antioxidant vitamin C) and light
almond, cashew or coconut milk and blend.
Swap sour cream and cream cheese for Greek yogurt or
avocados.
Slow aging and increase brain health by reducing salt. The highly-rated DASH diet advocates cutting
sodium to lose weight, too. Eat low sodium vegetable soups. Make homemade veggie soup by dicing
summer squash, zucchini, tomato, celery, purple cabbage, peppers, mushrooms and onions. Simmer
in a broth made salt-free Spike, salt-free Mrs. Dash, Bragg's Liquid Amino, sea salt or Himalayan pink
salt. Add a little liquid smoke or chipotle for a bite.
Swap hot dogs, lunch meat, sausage and bacon for light turkey and chicken deli meat. Serve fresh
chicken sausages and turkey hot dogs. Skip meat altogether and try a nut and seed vegan burger.
Roast a big portabello mushroom or sweet potato and serve instead of meat. Eat more fish. Broil
salmon, swordfish, pollock, cod or tuna steaks. Season with lemon juice, dill and Greek yogurt. How's
that for yummy brain food swaps to slow aging and beat Alzheimer's?
