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The US Sun
The 5 foods that could slash your risk of dementia by 28% – and red wine and chocolate are on the list
By Eliza Loukou,
8 days ago
RED wine and chocolate could cut your risk of dementia, according to a study.
A little indulgence may be good for our brains thanks to ingredients packed with antioxidants.
The study of 122,000 British adults found those who ate the greatest amounts of flavonoids had a 28 per cent lower risk of dementia than people who ate the least.
The health-boosting chemicals are found in the grapes used to make vino, and also in the cocoa beans in dark chocolate.
People also get them from more famously healthy foods like berries, leafy greens and fruit and vegetables.
About a million people in the UK have dementia and nearly half of cases could be prevented by better health.
Study author Dr Amy Jennings, from Queen’s University in Belfast, said: “These results provide a clear public health message.
“They suggest that a simple increase in daily consumption of flavonoid-rich foods may lower dementia risk.
“Currently there is no effective treatment for the disease so preventive interventions to improve health should continue to be a priority.”
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) – which contain flavourings, preservatives, emulsifiers and thickeners and have been heavily altered from their natural state – have been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia.
They include fizzy drinks, biscuits, sweets, ready meals and crisps.
Having lots of sugar in any form, including fruit juice, cakes, and chocolate, makes people 54 per cent more likely to develop the condition, a US study found.
Alcohol
According to Alzheimer’s Society, evidence shows that excessive alcohol consumption increases a person’s risk of developing dementia.
Boozing is linked to reduced volume of the brain’s white matter, which helps to transmit signals between different brain regions, leading to issues in brain function, the charity explained.
Over a long period of time, drinking more than the recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol a week “may shrink the parts of the brain involved in memory”.
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