Westmont Living’s Nutrition Tips for Brain Health
Residential Facility Offers Smart Food Advice for Seniors
By Leslie Dinaberg
‘Like so many other organs, the brain possesses a miraculous ability to heal itself, to forge new synaptic connections around old ones, to learn and relearn. That is, however, if you don’t keep damaging it three times a day. A wholesome diet and exercise may offer your best hope for remaining sharp and healthy into your twilight years.’
—Michael Greger, How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
‘Keep your blood clean, your body lean, and your mind sharp.’
—Henry Rollins
Diet and exercise is the key to good health at any age, but particularly as you grow older. Current research says a brain-healthy diet encourages good blood flow to the brain, is low in fat and cholesterol, and includes vibrant foods rich in antioxidants. Like the heart, the brain needs the right balance of nutrients to function well. To be most effective, a brain-healthy diet should be combined with physical and mental activity and social interaction.
Peter Do, Senior Director of Culinary Services at Westmont Living (westmontliving.com), which owns Mariposa at Ellwood Shores in Goleta, says there are a variety of foods that help to maintain brain health. He recommends:
• Eat in moderation; increase intake of protective foods that may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and protect brain cells.
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