Diet for the mind The latest science on what to eat to prevent Alzheimer's and cognitive decline-- from the creator of the MIND diet

Morris, a Harvard-trained epidemiologist, presents a detailed and lay-reader-friendly explanation of her 2015 report on the links between diet and cognitive health. Morris recounts how she and colleagues at the MIND Center for Brain Health at Rush University in Chicago adopted certain features of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and low-sodium antihypertension DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet and augmented them with new research to develop the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay) diet. She explains that there seems to be less risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline in general when consuming foods-not supplements-high in vitamins E, B12, folate, and niacin; lutein, beta-carotene, and the flavonoids found in vegetables; omega-3 fatty acids; and vegetable-sourced fats. Part one of the book clearly and cogently explains "mind-healthy science," with recommendations for everyday eating, (vegetables, whole grains, and vegetable oil) and weekly eating (berries, nuts, seafood, poultry, and legumes) and information on "brainless foods that harm the mind" (such as red meat, dairy products, and processed or high-heat cooked food). Part two of the book covers lifestyle advice and 80 MIND-diet recipes developed by the author's chef daughter, Laura Morris. This guide puts forward an uncomplicated, sensible-sounding plan for health in body and mind. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Physician Morris (director, MIND Ctr. for Brain Health, Rush Univ.) has been conducting and publishing scholarly research on the corollary between nutrition and the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's for several years. The MIND diet-Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay-combines the benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet with the hypertension-reducing DASH diet. Now Morris has created a guide to the MIND Diet for all health-conscious readers. As well as providing a thoughtful treatise on aging and the mind, including a discussion of the various forms of dementia and Alzheimer's, the author highlights how various nutritional elements affect the brain. She then systematically outlines foods to avoid, foods to include each week, and helpful lifestyle changes needed to create workable meal plans that provide the best nutrition for brain cells. Certified nutrition consultant and chef Laura Morris, the author's daughter, provides 80 recipes to support the MIND Diet. Unfortunately, a nutritional analysis breakdown is not included for the recipes. -VERDICT A very readable book on a salient topic for individuals interested in health improvement and topics of aging.-Crystal Renfro, Kennesaw State Univ., Marietta, GA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.