Dementia is the inability to remember, learn, understand, or communicate poorly. The condition can be associated with aged people. However, other people could also develop a progressive decline in memory loss even in their younger ages. Nutrition and better lifestyles have therefore intervened to give hope to people battling with dementia condition. Eating a proper diet and maintaining regular workouts could be a good move to improve your memory. This guide is thus meant to look into more details on the importance of nutrition for people living with dementia.
Significance of nutrition in dementia
Your brain needs the energy to function effectively, and it is thus important that you stick to a healthy diet to improve your memory, be able to think critically, learn, and understand things clearly. If you stay hungry for a longer time, your body will be exhausted, and you will begin to lose concentration on whatever you are working on. Your body will need some energy to complete the tasks and make your brain focus on the given activity.
Dementia is a severe condition in this case that is capable of damaging the brain cells and eventually kill them if you do not find an ideal solution for the condition. Alzheimer’s, for instance, is a common form of dementia condition that results from abnormal deposition of proteins in the brain cells that are responsible for memory control and brain functioning. Dementia causes different brain conditions, depending on the affected area.
According to Jane Byrne, Project Coordinator at FirstCare nursing home Dublin. “dementia is not a disease itself, but a set of symptoms that can be caused by other diseases. Many of us have heard of Alzheimer’s, which is the most common cause of dementia, but there are also others, such as vascular dementia.”
It is therefore recommended that you include proteins such as fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins in your diet to improve your memory, learning, and also facilitate smooth communication amongst other people.
If you stick to the wrong diet, then you are likely to worsen the condition making you lose focus and unable to perform any task effectively.
Specific foods that would improve your memory and cognitive function
You need to remember that nutrition is not a treatment for dementia. Sticking to a healthy diet is instead is meant to reduce the dementia effects and improve your brain functionality as a whole.
- As mentioned earlier, vitamins are recommended to improve brain functionality. Therefore consider fruits such as avocados for better results. Avocados are a source of vitamin K hence ideal for better memories, focus, and cognitive abilities. Vitamin K is a popular option in the prevention of blood clots. Feeding on such a diet is thus a better idea to prevent blood clots in the brain hence improving its functionality.
- Beetroots are a great option to ensure a smooth flow of blood in the entire body and as well into the brain and as a result improving the mental performances. Beetroots also reduce brain inflammation, as well.
- Olive oils are also a great deal in preventing dementia. Polyphenol compounds in the extra virgin olive oils improve memory levels and your learning, as well. The oils also help to fight acidic or toxic protein in the brain.
- Vegetables, including kale, spinach, and broccoli, are also packed with oxidants to keep them fresh from damage. These greens can significantly help to fight depression, stress, and anxiety, which make you lose focus or concentration on a particular task.
- Eggs are another option to consider. They provide high amounts of energy in the body, making you focus on a particular subject without losing concentration. Eggs contain fatty acids, vitamin B12, selenium, and folate, among other compounds that would help improve your condition.
- You also need to include energy-giving foods in your diet to ensure satiety effects, keeping you focused on your daily activities. Consider blueberries for satiety effect benefits and vitamins for more fiber in the body.
- Nuts, oats, and wholemeal bread also burn energy slowly hence saving more energy to help you focus and concentrate on your tasks.
Switching to a healthy diet can be a difficult process to maintain in a regular basis. However, setting goals and understanding your due course should be enough motivation to keep you going. It may take time before the effects are realized, and this does not give you a chance to give up. Follow a strict and healthy diet to reduce dementia effects and prevent any future symptoms.