Good News About Good Food
A recent survey has linked healthy diets to increased mental sharpness among adults age 40 and older. These older adults who say they eat plenty of healthy foods are twice as likely as those who rarely eat a nutritious diet to rate their mental sharpness as “excellent” or “very good” according to a new AARP consumer survey on brain health and nutrition.
Respondents who claim to eat fruits, vegetables, and fish regularly say they also experience the benefit of not only a healthier brain but a healthier heart and overall bodily health as well.
These results coincide with AARP’s recent Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) study which concludes that a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables is conducive to maintaining improved brain health while eating seafood can also potentially improve cognitive function.
Gourmet Meets Good-For-You
McKnight Place is proud to offer our residents a wide variety of healthy dining options spanning all food groups conducive to brain and heart health. McKnight Place’s Executive Chef John Morales brings a demonstrated record of success, along with international flair.
Chef Morales loves working individually with residents. He regularly collaborates with residents and their families to make sure unique palettes have access to special menu items or ingredients. He also takes recommendations and requests for personal favorite menu items which can connect residents to past memories held dear, stimulating cognitive activity.
Keeping Your Body Going with Age
It’s important to remember that no single food is the answer to perfect brain or heart health. Though, by consuming a balanced diet of fruits, veggies, fish, and healthy fats, while cutting down on salt, sugar, highly saturated fats, and empty calories — improved brain and heart health may not be far behind.
According to AARP, nearly 90 percent of survey takers say they would likely eat healthier if they knew it would lower the risks of cognitive decline, heart disease, and diabetes.
Well, it’s never too late!
At McKnight Place, we place a high premium on a healthy diet and its many benefits. It’s a simple yet important concept that McKnight Place holds dear: What’s good for the body is good for the brain, and vice versa. Learn more about the aforementioned study and subsequent conclusions of medical professionals in this AARP article. To learn more about McKnight Place’s dining options available to both assisted living and skilled nursing residents, or to schedule a tour, contact us at 314-993-3333.