Olive oil is the most well known cooking oil associated with both brain and heart health. One of the reasons for this is that plant-based oils like olive oil are high in polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids, which have been associated with decreased risk of cognitive decline.
Oils derived from plants, specifically extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil, have massive brain-boosting potential. Olive oil is rich in polyphenols, potent antioxidants that have been shown to reverse cognitive deficits brought on by both the natural process of aging and disease.
Olive oil is the clear winner when choosing an oil to use without or on low heat. Olive oil is packed with good fats and phytonutrients that support your cognitive function and overall health, making it a staple in the kitchen of anyone looking to improve brain health.
Recent studies show that several essential oils—including lavender, bergamot, and lemon—can calm memory care patients. The oils suppress both aggression and agitation. Besides relieving symptoms associated with memory disturbances, aromatherapy can improve cognitive performance.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Contains Essential Vitamins
It's an effective antioxidant which protects the brain from free radical damage. Vitamin E, especially in the presence of vitamin C, helps to maintain a good memory, slow memory loss, and significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
How much olive oil do you need to consume? In order to get the health benefits, the general body of research says that 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day will improve your blood pressure, protect your heart and brain, when you increase this to 3 or 4 tablespoons the oil also helps with weight loss.
Some of the best oils for dementia are coconut oil and olive oil. More and more research shows that both of these oils has tremendous benefits for dementia and Alzheimer's patients as a natural treatment.
Both olive oil and avocado oil are considered good fats and are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help improve heart health. On the other hand, olive oil is slightly more nutritious on the whole because it contains more potassium, calcium, iron and vitamins.
“Based on the findings of this study and previous pre-clinical studies by us and others, we can conclude that adding olive oil to our diet could maintain a healthy brain and improve memory function.”
Oils such as eucalyptus and peppermint oil help to stimulate the brain and increase focus, as well as reduce brain fog.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils used to improve focus, concentration, overall mental clarity and for a quick boost of energy.
Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following: Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene.
Fruits. Certain fruits such as oranges, bell peppers, guava, kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries, contain high amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps prevent brain cells from becoming damaged and supports overall brain health. In fact, a study found that vitamin C can potentially prevent Alzheimer's.
Getting enough vitamin B12 may give you more energy, improve memory, and make learning new things easier. It also has been shown to help improve mood and lessen depressive symptoms.
Souvenaid is a medical drink containing an active ingredient called Fortasyn Connect. This is a combination of fatty acids, vitamins and other nutrients. It was developed with the aim of preventing the loss of important connections between brain cells that occurs in Alzheimer's disease.
There are few people in the world who know more about how to use coconut oil for dementia and Alzheimer's than Dr. Newport. She recommends starting by taking one teaspoon of coconut oil 2-3 times a day with food, and working up to 4-6 tablespoons a day of coconut oil and MCT oil combined.
It's been shown to lower blood pressure and contains plant-based compounds that offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties known to reduce the disease process, including heart disease. Olive oil is derived from the fruit of the olive tree, cultivated mainly in the Mediterranean for over 5,000 years.
While a spoonful of olive oil might not change your life on day 1, consistent consumption of EVOO is proven to provide a multitude of long-term health benefits, such as better cardiovascular health, a reduced risk for cancer, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
As a general rule of thumb, between one and two tablespoons a day is a good amount of olive oil to consume. This goes for both olive oil that you drink for health benefits and also olive oil that you consume with food as part of your regular cooking process.
The researchers also conducted genetic tests on the group and found that tea drinkers who carried the APOE4 gene variant, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's, were also at a lower risk compared with people who had APOE4 and did not drink tea.