Westwood COA samples the MIND diet

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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter

A diet full of ripe fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains could keep a person bursting with energy from sunrise to sunset, whereas living off of microwave dinners and fast food could cause a person to feel sluggish and unmotivated all day long. Most people consider a diet to be associated to a person’s weight and physique, but one’s diet has a huge effect on how the mind functions, as well. What one eats affects the body and the brain’s function.

Last Wednesday, Seniors at the Westwood Council on Aging discussed just how to protect one’s brain from diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

On August 2, Jen Murray and Amy Mullen of JM Home Healthcare, and Tara Carter, spoke with the Westwood COA about the best diet for the brain. The diet, called the MIND (Mediterranean Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, can lower a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 54 percent, or by 35 percent for those who loosely follow the diet. Murray, Mullen, and Carter served the event attendees delicious samples of foods and a smoothie that completely adhered to the MIND diet.

The diet calls for plenty of servings of vegetables (at least one a day), three or more servings of whole grains a day, berries twice or more a week, and beans and nuts several times a week. It suggests poultry only twice a week and fish once a week, but recommends olive oil as the main cooking oil. However, the diet does not recommend eating red meat more than five times a week, nor does it suggest many servings of butter, cheese, sweets, or fried foods.

Carter also warned against pre-packaged foods that claim to be healthy: “I think some people look at the label and assume that [the food is] healthy, but they’re actually loaded with preservatives, sodium, and sugar.”

Carter suggested trading in salt for natural spices and arugula to pack more flavor into food.

The event also provided its attendees with a guilt-free (yet appetizing) lunch while they discussed how fresh foods have such a positive impact on one’s mind and body.

“Remember: everything in moderation,” Mullen reminded the seniors at the Westwood COA. “But if you can start by making small steps, like starting the day with a smoothie, it will help a lot.”