Doctor reveals five foods 'you’ve been avoiding’ that lower dementia risk
If you want to take good care of your cognitive functions, you ought to take more consideration about what food you put into your mouth.
According to this medic, your diet drastically impacts the risk of developing dementia - and she believes we should all be putting five specific items in our shopping basket to help lower ours.
Dr Annette Bosworth, who is better known online as Dr Boz, explained that people tend to 'avoid' these products even though they have incredible health benefits.
So, you might want to step outside your comfort zone and switch up your shopping list next time you head out to stock up on some supplies.
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Dr Boz - who regularly shares health advice on social media - previously posted a short clip detailing the 'five best foods for preventing dementia'.
She revealed that these are conveniently all located on the same aisle in supermarkets, but pointed out that this aisle is the one you have probably 'been avoiding the entire time'.
According to the Alzheimer's Society, around one million people in the UK are living with dementia, and this is projected to rise to a whopping 1.4 million in 2040.
Earlier this year, a leading dementia expert explained that there are three tweaks that people can make to their lifestyles to help try to reduce their risk of developing the disease.
Professor Catherine Mummery said she believes that around 45 percent of dementia cases could potentially be preventable if 'you modify your risk factors' and Dr Boz is of the same opinion.
The Florida-based physician, who specialises in 'reversing chronic illness through a ketogenic lifestyle', reckons that it all starts with your diet. They don't say you are what you eat for nothing, you know.
In the clip shared to her YouTube channel last year, Dr Boz said that consuming canned fish is the key to lowering your risk of dementia.
"The five best canned fish with high Omega 3, high Vitamin D and low mercury is SMASH - salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring," she said.
"Next time you walk out the door, stick a can of fish in your pocket and have it for lunch. Your brain will thank you."
Dr Boz is a big advocate for the sardine diet, which is exactly what it sounds like - you exclusively eat the oily fish for an extended period of time.
The doctor claims that this will jump-start your metabolism and send your body into advanced ketosis to rapidly burn fat for energy, as well as having other benefits.
Canned sardines 'have one of the best macronutrient profiles on the planet', Dr Boz said.
The fish are rich in essential nutrients, low in calories and can bring a host of health benefits when you include them in your diet.
According to Web MD, studies have shown that they can improve the health of your heart, eyes and brain, as well as strengthening your bones, improving blood vessel function and easing inflammation, among other things.
Discussing the benefits of shovelling sardines down your throat, Dr Boz continued: "20g of protein, 20g of fat and no carbohydrates. One can is extremely satiating, with only 250 calories.
"It's also the healthiest source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Fish is also rich in Vitamin D, [which is] one of the most common deficiencies I see in my clinic and another risk factor for dementia."
She then seemingly referenced a 2023 scientific review which she was involved in alongside other experts, which found that 'those with a higher Omega 3 level reduced their risk of dementia by 17% in the ladies and a staggering 26% in men'.
Boffins put a 47-year-old woman with Down syndrome who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease on a ketogenic diet and said it 'restored her cognitive functions' over a period of just six weeks.
The patient's cognitive scores returned to their 'baseline function' while there were also 'improvements in behavioural and mood symptoms'.
As well as incorporating more Omega 3-packed fish into your diet, another doctor suggested that we should make some changes to our morning routines to avoid raising our risk of dementia.
The family of film legend Bruce Willis have been candid with fans about his experience of the disease and previously revealed the first signs they noticed prior to his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
Topics: Health, Food And Drink
Olivia Burke