A recent report that two or three glasses of red wine a day is good for the brain means little to folks who won't or don't consume alcohol. But don't despair. Experts say there are a number of foods able help preserve memory and protect against diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Red peppers in salads and sandwiches are a case in point. These are particularly rich in Vitamin C and beta carotene. Scientists at the University of Bern in Switzerland say both supplements help the memory process.
Sardines two or three times a week could be a big help, says London food expert Angela Dowden. These are "one of the star memory-boosting foods and provide omega-3 fats that are essential to reducing inflammatory processes in the brain," she says.
Cauliflower and cheese is a combination of two foods that are of particular value to keeping the brain in good trim, Dowden says. Cheese -- especially harder varieties such as cheddar -- is a good source of zinc, which helps transfer information from one brain cell to another. Cauliflower provides a number of memory-enhancing nutrients such as vitamin C, choline and folic acid.
