New Study shows How to Lower Alzheimer's Risk

Americans who ate a Mediterranean diet - lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, some fish and alcohol, and little dairy and meat - had a reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease as they aged. These findings are published in the April 2006 issue of Annals of Neurology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons.

"Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," the authors report.

For each additional point to Mediterranean diet scores (indicating increased adherence to the diet), Alzheimer's risk dropped by 9 to 10 percent, and people in the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a 39 to 40 percent lower risk

“While a number of studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet decreases the risk of heart disease, this is the first research to show a benefit in terms of mental function ," said Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center and leader of the study.

When it comes to getting your 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies everyday, The Wholefood Farmacy is one of the easiest way. When healthy foods are delicious and convenient everyone in your home, especially the children, will benefit. Keeping some Wholefood Farmacy foods on hand can help you “bridge the gap” when you just don’t have the time.

Have you and your children had your 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies today?