Eat your salad for a better memory

According to a new study, a salad a day will keep Alzheimer’s away — eating your greens can slow down the brain’s aging process and keep it sharp.

Published in the Archives of Neurology, the study found eating more salad dressing, nuts, fish, chicken, leafy greens tomatoes, fruit and fish can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It also found that people who had lower intakes of red meat, butter and high-fat dairy had a lower risk of developing the disease.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that causes thinking and memory to become seriously impaired, according to the Alzheimer Society.

Noelle Martin, the University Students’ Council’s nutritionist, says this study should be taken seriously.

“There is a large body of evidence to show the connection between brain development and the intake of EPA and DHA [healthy fatty acids]. Therefore, this extension of that concept in the prevention of memory loss makes complete sense,” she says.

A good diet can also prevent a variety of chronic illnesses and elevate energy levels for carrying out daily tasks. If cutting unhealthy fats from your diet is unrealistic, or you’re not a salad enthusiast, there are other strategies that will keep your memory sharp.

“Eating within one hour of waking up and then eating small meals or snacks regularly throughout the day can be very beneficial in terms of staying alert and focusing in class or at work,” Martin says.  “The more focused you are, the more you will be able to retain and remember.”