Vitamin E and D can Help Your Memory

Two studies just came out. One about the benefits of eating foods high in Vitamin E to lower your risk of developing dementia and another talking about the risk of Vitamin D deficiencies in older adults.

1. Foods Rich in Vitamin E Lowers Your Dementia Risk

Eating foods high in Vitamin E appears to lower your risk of dementia.  These findings were reported in a recent issue of Archives of Neurology.

Cells are damaged by oxidative stress from exposure to oxygen. Researchers believe that oxidative stress plays a role in developing dementia. The authors of the study wrote,  “The brain is a site of high metabolic activity, which makes it vulnerable to oxidative damage, and slow accumulation of such damage over a lifetime may contribute to the development of dementia”.  They also stated,  “Vitamin E is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that may help to inhibit the pathogenesis of dementia.”

The study revealed that the participants who eat the most Vitamin E in foods like butter, cooking fat, mayonnaise, soybean oil and margarine had a 25% less chance of developing dementia.

2. Vitamin D Deficiencies can be linked to Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Adults 65 or older with low levels of Vitamin D have a greater chance of developing a decline in thinking, memory and learning, according to a report in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

The article pointed out that 40 to 100% of older adults are deficient in Vitamin D.  These Vitamin D deficiencies can be linked to fractures, various chronic diseases and death. The report also talked about how Vitamin D may help the degeneration of brain tissue by helping in the formation of nervous tissue.

The participants who were the most deficient in Vitamin D were 60% more likely to have substantial cognitive decline.

Foods high in Vitamin E

• Mustard greens
• Chard
• Sunflower seeds
• Almonds
• Spinach

Foods high in Vitamin D

• Cod liver oil
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Cod
• Shrimp
• Eggs

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Best – Mike Cola

Demystifying Nutrition