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Canadians are increasingly seeking diets that promote longer, healthier lives. Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and weekly Globe and Mail columnist, has written extensively on healthy aging – from nutrition strategies that support brain, heart and gut health to the foods and nutrients that help preserve muscle strength and bolster immunity.
How well do you know which foods and eating patterns can help you achieve your nutrition-related health goals? Take our quiz to find out:
d. A study conducted at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee (not decaf) a day – compared with less – reduced the risk of dementia by 18 per cent.
c. The DASH Diet is a heart-healthy eating plan that emphasizes a balanced intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins.
c. A study published in JAMA Neurology found that high adherence to the DASH diet in midlife was tied to a significantly lower likelihood of self-perceived cognitive decline when older.
c. Sticky fibre found in breakfast foods such as oats, psyllium-enriched cereal, apples, avocados, berries, citrus fruits and chia seeds can help improve satiety and blood-sugar regulation. Read more here.
d. The cholesterol-lowering Portfolio diet includes 45 grams of nuts and seeds each day. Many international health organizations recommend the Portfolio diet for lowering LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
a. Refined foods such as white bread have significantly lower amounts of antioxidants compared with whole plant foods. Antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals that our bodies are exposed to, which help prevent damage to DNA in cells.
a. Airborne lead dust can fall onto food crops or into the soil, which is then absorbed into plants. The report stated there’s no reason to worry if you use any of the products tested occasionally, the potential negative health risks come with regular daily consumption.