“Nutrient Cocktail” Slows Brain Aging to a CRAWL
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 5, 2024
One moment you’re on top of the world, multitasking like a pro and keeping all the balls in the air.
Got to stop at the grocery store? No problem, you remember every item you need WITHOUT a list. Four appointments on the books this week? Piece of cake, you don’t miss a single one. Heck, you arrive EARLY for most of them.
But then suddenly it happens.
Maybe you forget where you parked your car at the mall. Or you run into an old friend from high school and can’t recall their name. And that’s when the worry sets in.
You wonder if you’re seeing the first signs of cognitive decline.
It’s natural to be concerned about your brain health as you age. But keeping your brain in tip-top shape might be easier than you ever imagined.
New research reveals that certain nutrients could be the key to a sharper mind as we age.
Scientists recently did some digging to find out if there’s a connection between what we eat and how our brains age.
They recruited 100 healthy volunteers between the ages of 65 and 75 and put them through a series of tests, including brain scans, memory exercises, and blood work.
That’s when things got REALLY interesting. The researchers found that the folks with brains that were aging more slowly had something surprising in common… a specific mix of nutrients in their blood.
This “brain-friendly” cocktail included fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that you might find in a typical Mediterranean-style diet. You know, the one with lots of fish, olive oil, and colorful veggies.
Now, we already knew eating this way had all kinds of health benefits, of course. But this study was one of the first to look at the link between nutrition and brain health from so many angles.
Instead of just asking participants what they ate and testing their memory the researchers went the extra mile by scanning their brains and analyzing their blood samples.
The results were pretty clear. Folks with the RIGHT balance of nutrients in their blood performed significantly better on cognitive tests and had healthier brain scans.
In other words, we might be able to slow brain aging down to a crawl just by eating the right foods!
So, what EXACTLY should you be munching on to keep your mind sharp? The study pinpointed several standout nutrients, including…
- essential fatty acids (found in foods like nuts and oily, cold-water fish),
- antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin (found in leafy greens),
- vitamin E (found in sunflower seeds, avocados, and salmon),
- and choline (which you can get from eggs and nuts).
The scientists plan on continuing to research the brain-food connection, including studies where they give volunteers specific supplements to see if it makes a difference in their cognitive abilities and brain health.
However, in the meantime, take a cue from the Mediterranean diet and swap out the potato chips for a handful of nuts or a colorful salad.
With the right fuel in your tank, you might just be able to keep your mind sharp as a tack for the rest of your days!
P.S. Discover nature’s brilliant secret for better brain health.
Source:
Christopher E. Zwilling, Jisheng Wu, Aron K. Barbey. Investigating nutrient biomarkers of healthy brain aging: a multimodal brain imaging study. npj Aging, 2024; 10 (1) [DOI: 10.1038 /s41514-024-00150-8]
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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