MIND Diet

“MIND” stands for “Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay”, which combines the strengths of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet to create an eating pattern that focuses on brain health. The main goal of this diet is to prevent dementia and age-related cognitive decline, but anyone can follow the MIND diet for weight loss and overall wellness. The MIND diet emphasizes more than 10 foods that are beneficial for the brain, which are green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, berries, beans, fish, poultry... In addition, Limit margarine, cheese, red meat, fried foods, pastries...

Because MIND was created after the Mediterranean diet and DASH, there is less research on its effectiveness. However, the published research on its health benefits is impressive. In a study of nearly 1,000 older adults, those who followed the MIND diet most closely had a 53% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than participants on other diets. It's relatively easy to make as it allows you to eat out. This is because the diet focuses primarily on healthy foods and doesn't require you to keep track of your daily calorie intake. Before you start the MIND diet or any other diet, talk to your doctor, who can help you come up with an eating plan that works best for you.