Healthy Eating

At the end of three months, the calorie cutting group scored an average of 20 percent better in tests of memory performance; the other groups showed no change. Researchers theorized that the calorie-cutters, who lost four to seven pounds, might experience brain benefits from decreased insulin and inflammation.

MyPlate for Older Adults calls attention to the unique nutritional and physical activity needs associated with advancing years, emphasizing positive choices. It shows how older adults might follow a healthy dietary pattern that builds on the MyPlate graphic.

Following a DASH diet seems to also be good for your brain-not surprising, since cardiovascular health is linked to protecting your brain against strokes and dementia. The DASH regimen is high in fruits, vegetables, and grains, while cutting back on meat, saturated fat, sweets, and salt.

Spicy Curry Soup with Chicken Recipe

Timing and moderation allow you to enjoy coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages without disturbing your slumber.

In addition to the bananas, apples, grapes, oranges and peaches that often fill the collective American fruit bowl, there is a rich variety of tropical fruits available-some year round, and at affordable prices.

The Mediterranean-type diet is just one dietary pattern among several mentioned in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that can help prevent disease and promote health. To be precise, there is not just one Mediterranean diet-not in the sense that theres only one South Beach or Zone diet. Because the Mediterranean region covers multiple unique food cultures, the diet can be thought of as an overall pattern of eating with certain consistent features.

Its often said that whats good for the heart is also good for the brain, and research suggests this may be true for the Mediterranean diet pattern. A variety of studies have found that older adults who eat a Mediterranean-style diet are at lower risk of general age-related decline in memory and other cognitive skills-including Alzheimers disease, the most common form of dementia in older adults. There is growing evidence that a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables, berries, whole grains and healthy fats from sources such as olive oil and fish can lower a persons risk for not only heart disease, but cognitive decline related to Alzheimers and stroke as well, says Tammy Scott, PhD, a scientist in Tufts HNRCA Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory.

Like other healthy eating patterns, the Mediterranean diet is rich in sources of unsaturated fats, such as olive oil and nuts, and emphasizes whole grains, legumes, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and limits red and processed meat, refined grains and added sugar. Nutrition science has produced convincing evidence that this eating pattern is good for you.

Heartburn is an occasional unwelcome guest for most of us. Its most common telltale sign is a burning pain behind the breastbone. The usual cause is the backing up (reflux) of stomach acid into the lower esophagus, inflaming its sensitive lining. If heartburn progresses from occasional to chronic-symptoms that occur more than once a week for months-it could mean a more serious condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The condition affects up to 1 in 5 people worldwide.