Food for Memory in Older Adults

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The brain is the most complex organ we possess, but possibly the most vulnerable to lack of nutrition. As we age, if we do not consume certain vitamins, it may deteriorate and lose its memory, among other things. The brain is in charge of encoding, storing and retrieving information. It allows us to remember moments and sensations. Maintaing the memory in older adults during their daily lives. In addition, mental health is linked to physical health. In addition to exercising our mind, it is also essential to eat foods that are good for our memory. Especially in the older adults. Nutrition is essential to lead a healthy life and eat properly in order to improve, maintain and strengthen memory and brain activity, among other things.

List of foods to improve memory

For good mental health in older adults, it is essential to follow a healthy and balanced diet, there are foods which – thanks to their nutrients and properties – are favourable to maintaining memory. Examples include:

Foods for memory: nuts

Nuts contain many beneficial qualities that contribute to improving health. Among them walnuts are a very important food because they contain great vitamins such as B and E and minerals and magnesium. Nuts favour the development of memory and help in learning. They also have a high content of omega 3 which benefits the production of serotonin, the substance that increases the feeling of wellbeing and happiness.

Foods for memory: carrots

Carrots are one of the best foods for improving memory, especially in older people. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which makes them an excellent antioxidant and also fights against brain damage and ageing, making carrot a suitable vegetable for improving memory in older people.

Foods for memory: oily fish

Sardines, salmon and tuna, among other oily fish, are good for strengthening brain health, promoting neuronal connection and memory, as well as protecting against cognitive deterioration and some neurodegenerative diseases, as they contain phosphorus and a large amount of omega-3.

Foods for memory: red fruits

Blueberries and other red fruits, for example, are good antioxidants that help prevent and slow down the consequences of ageing, as well as aiding communication between neurons. They are also beneficial for preserving memory and reducing the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Foods for memory: Eggs

Eggs are sometimes consumed by adults in particular because they can cause cholesterol, but eating them regularly in appropriate amounts helps memory because the yolk contains choline, a micronutrient that the brain uses to produce a neurotransmitter that can help preserve memory and communication in brain cells.

Foods for memory: sultanas

Through the process of drying the grape in order to reduce its humidity and preserve it for a long time, sultanas are obtained, a dried fruit with many nutritional properties, including its antioxidant capacity and rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium and iron. It is a good food for improving brain function as well as memory.

It is essential to take care of the diet of the older adults, that they follow an adequate, healthy and varied diet to guarantee a good active ageing process. In addition, a very important function of our brain that must also be taken care of is our memory in order to slow down its deterioration. Thanks to the consumption of certain foods such as those mentioned above, it is possible to strengthen and maintain good brain activity and an adequate quality of life. On the other hand, combining this diet with activities to exercise the brain will help even more to strengthen it and train the memory.