New and Noteworthy

What did you eat today?

The answer to that question is more important than you might think. A new study reports one more health advantage for the Mediterranean diet – it fights (or at least forestalls) Alzheimer’s disease. With an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, beans, “good fats” like olive oil, and fish, the Mediterranean diet has been consistently linked to better heart health in medical literature. Now a new landmark study has shown that the more closely people follow this type of eating plan, the less likely they are to develop Alzheimer’s.

At first glance, the Mediterranean diet may seem to be a real stretch for anyone hooked on the all-American cheeseburger and fries. But if you replace just one high-fat meal with a savory stew of lentils and vegetables, for example, you’re providing your brain with at least some of the nutrients it needs to remain fully functioning.

Actually, the real irony here is that Mediterranean cooking is absolutely delicious and satisfying. Don’t take my word for it. Here are a few excellent cookbooks that provide plenty of recipes.

The Mediterranean Diet: Revised and Updated Edition
By Marissa Cloutier and Eve Adamson
(HarperCollins, 2004)

The Mediterranean Prescription: Meal Plans and Recipes to Help You Stay Slim and Healthy for the Rest of Your Life
By Angelo Acquista with Laurie Anne Vandermolen
(Random House, 2006)

Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking
By Paola Gavin
(M. Evans; 2005)

And while it’s not strictly focused on the Mediterranean diet, this book, by one of America’s leading nutrition researchers, is an education in itself:

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating
By Walter Willett, M.D., and P.J. Skerrett
(Free Press, 2005)

If you’re still not convinced that it’s time to change your eating habits, read on. Saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein are all fairly low in the Mediterranean diet. Not surprisingly, another new study found that when mice chowed down on meals loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol (in other words, the Standard American Diet), their mental functions failed as they grew older. Even worse, their brains showed accumulations of beta amyloid, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s.

The number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s today is approximately 4.5 million, but experts estimate that by mid-century that figure will soar to a staggering 16 million! Bottom line: Do your brain a favor -- eat right.