The Shocking Solution to Alzheimer’s Disease?
Most conversations about cholesterol focus on its impact on heart disease.
I’ve had plenty to say on that topic as well, and most of it is the total opposite of what mainstream health organizations will tell you.
But today I want to focus on something different.
Instead of addressing the impact cholesterol has (or doesn’t have) on heart health, I want to tell you why it’s absolutely essential for your brain—especially if you want to guard it against Alzheimer’s disease.
Did you know that more than 60 percent of your brain is made up of fat by weight?
Fat—both saturated and unsaturated—provides structural integrity and fluid to your brain cells.
You may already know that omega-3 fats are great for your brain health and your cognitive function.
But cholesterol is just as important.
In a recent study, researchers analyzed the concentrations of HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) in the cerebrospinal fluid of 180 people averaging 77-years-old.
They found that having more HDL particles in the spinal fluid was linked with two factors that can help protect against Alzheimer’s:
- Better performance on tests of memory and thinking.
- Higher levels of a peptide called amyloid beta 42 in their cerebrospinal fluid.
You can think of HDL particles as a lubricant that keeps the kinks out of your brain system.
The researchers concluded that HDL is involved in the clearance of the harmful particles that contribute to amyloid beta plaque seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
But their solution—developing future treatments for Alzheimer’s using HDL particles—had me rolling my eyes.
You do not need drugs to boost healthy levels of HDL in your brain.
Here are five easy steps that have been proven to boost brain levels of HDL:
- Consume more olive oil.
- Eat a low-carb diet.
- Eat more purple foods like eggplant, blueberries, and red cabbage.
- Eat fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and anchovies.
Your brain will thank you… and so will your heart.
P.S. Recent research has found that probiotics could provide a simple way to help protect your brain. Click here to find out how.
SOURCE:
(2022, April 15.) Good Cholesterol in Brain May Help Keep Alzheimer’s at Bay. HealthDay News. https://consumer.healthday.com/alzheimer-s-2657148832.html
