A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, fish and olive oil can not only be beneficial for the heart, but also for the brain, says Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas of New York’s Columbia University.
The researcher claims that the Mediterranean diet reduced risks of cognitive disorders, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 48%.
Dr. Scarmeas, however, is wary of these results. "This is not a clinical trial, it is only an observational study. We cannot, therefore, say that the Mediterranean diet is definitely useful for neurological conditions such as mild cognitive impairment," he warned.
Several earlier studies suggest that this diet reduces one’s levels of bad cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and lowers the risks of cardiovascular disease.