For someone who stresses the importance of health, my diet is poor. Thankfully, I have friends who have noticed the harsh reality of my eating habits and havent shied away from informing me. Its safe to say I have seen the error of my ways.

I hate vegetables, but thats not a good enough reason to avoid them, especially at my age. I like fruits a lot but rarely buy them, as they tend to expire before I get the chance to eat them. It feels like a waste of money.

Eating fruits and vegetables has many health benefits. For example, pomegranates increase blood flow, and fruits and vegetables such as bananas and kale boost energy levels. These benefits are especially advantageous for people with sickle cell anemia. Increased blood flow reduces the chance of a sickle cell crisis, while more energy helps us to combat fatigue.

I decided that smoothies would be the easiest way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into my diet. I can mask the taste of vegetables I dislike with fruits I enjoy. To eliminate as much sugar as possible, I decided to use unsweetened almond milk instead of juice. Almond milk is high in vitamin D, which regulates the bodys levels of calcium and phosphate. I must increase my intake of vitamin D during colder months to combat the lack of sunlight, which is another source of vitamin D.

I have no problem starting habits, but I struggle with consistency, so I shopped in bulk. I bought all the fruit and vegetables I wanted to incorporate, prepped the smoothies, and prepackaged them in freezer bags that I can blend each morning. I also bought chia seeds for extra fiber and protein.

Here are some of the recipes I used:

I look forward to the differences in my health!

Do you have any healthy eating tips? Please share in the comments below.

***

Note: Sickle Cell Anemia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sickle Cell Anemia News or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sickle cell anemia.

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Healthy Eating: I'm Adding Fruits and Vegetables to My Diet - Sickle Cell Anemia News

Believe it or not, your emotional state has a lot to do with how healthy your gut is.

Every part of your body works together as one system; if one element is out of balance, it will affect everything else. If your gut health is poor, your overall health will be negatively affected.

According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2014, 43% of adults with depression were obese, and adults with depression were more likely to be obese than adults without depression. In every age group, women with depression were more likely to be obese than women without depression. The proportion of adults with obesity rose as the severity of depressive symptoms increased.

When you suffer from anxiety, depression or chronic stress, the last thing you want to deal with is healthy food and confronting the fact that what you are eating might be contributing to your mental and emotional state. You want gut-bomb food. You have that emotionally driven desire to hit the drive-thru and grab some carbohydrate-heavy comfort food.

There have probably been times that you thought and even said out loud, I need a cheeseburger and fries so bad right now! Honestly, what does that cheeseburger do for us besides make us feel bloated, guilty, lethargic and inflamed? There are many reasons we should carefully consider what we put into our bodies but when you are dealing with conditions like anxiety and depression, there are even more reasons to treat your gut with love.

Our gut microbiome has a strong influence on mood and behavior. Gut bacteria manufacture 95% of our bodys serotonin, an important neurochemical that affects mood, digestion and sleep. An unhealthy gut can also increase the physiological symptoms of and exacerbate depression, stress and anxiety.

Current research suggests a strong relationship between improved nutrition and better mental health. We see repetitively that consuming higher-glycemic foods correlates with greater risk of depression and anxiety. These studies show the sugar consumption comes before the depression. The thought here is that higher blood glucose levels in the body result in higher levels of inflammation, which cause neural damage in the brain.

Expecting to make these changes on your own isnt fair, and for a lot of us, just isnt possible. It is OK to ask for help; it is OK to need a team on your side. Just like an athlete has a coach, more often than not, we need that, too, when making nutrition and behavior changes. Having a team to guide you toward your health goals is invaluable to long term and sustainable success.

If you are ready for change, follow these three steps:

Commit to a life change with 100% dedication, determination and conviction.Stop telling yourself, I cant, Im not good enough and Ill never be able to ...Embrace the truth that you are worthy.Ashley Lucas has a doctorate in sports nutrition and chronic disease. She is also a registered dietitian nutritionist. She is the founder and owner of PHD Weight Loss and Nutrition, offering weight management and wellness services in the Four Corners. She can be reached at 764-4133.

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The mental health and diet connection - The Durango Herald

For decades, burgers and hotdogs have been hailed as the national symbols of the American diet. But as alarm over the climate catastrophe skyrockets and new research shows that switching over to a vegan-based diet can drastically cut CO2 emissions, our love affair with meat might be coming to an end.

There have already been some pretty sobering studies on the negative impacts of a carnivorous diet on both the human body and the planet, but for whatever reason Americans seem to struggle with actually swapping out steak for tofu. The amount of meat that American and British citizens consume has actually risen by 10 percent since 1970, according to data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.

But what if that could drastically curb climate change?

This week, research published by scientists at Oxford University made some shocking estimates regarding both the environmental and medical concerns of eating extra servings of certain types of food. One sobering finding related to health was that by eating an additional 50 grams of processed red meat (about two slices of ham) per day as compared to a person who eats the typical Western diet outlined in the paper, you elevate your chances of dying within the year by an alarming 41 percent. Yet, this pales in comparison to the environmental impact of eating meat.

Photo source: Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker / Flickr

In another study conducted earlier this year, researchers at John Hopkins University along with other institutions simulated the ecological impacts of certain dietary substitutions. They too found that sacrificing meat makes an enormous impact.

The Economist reports that compared with an American who consumes 2,300 calories of a typical combination of foods, a vegetarian slices 30 percent off of their annual green-house gas emissions by diet alone. Reducing dairy makes a big difference, too. If you can't bring yourself to go totally vegetarian for the planet, consider cutting out milk and cheese. After all, cows contribute 40 percent of the annual methane produced per year.

Obviously, the most ecologically clean diet is total plant-based veganism. Adherents to that diet cut down their carbon footprint by a whopping 85 percent. But you don't have to put a ring on veganism to radically lower carbon emissions through your diet. Going vegan for just two-thirds of meals while still occasionally indulging in animal products would cut food-related greenhouse-gas emissions by almost 60 percent.

Diet has played a fundamental role in the disastrous unsustainability of modern life. It's today's younger generations who are left with the catastrophic eruption of what humans have been doing to the Earth for the last few centuries. As we watch the Amazon burn, the arctic melt, and whole species get wiped out, it's no surprise that most American teens are anxious about climate change with around a quarter taking action.

So it's also not shocking that the biggest threat to the meat industry is younger millennials who are adopting a more vegan, plant-based diet. As veganism goes more mainstream and we witness the livestock industry crumble, it's looking like we're in the midst of a diet revolution.

In addition to vegan diets, this includes new technology radically changing the way we access nutrients. For example, today tools such as precision fermentation allow us to program and access the specific sources of the nutrients we need independent of the macro-organisms we have historically eaten, like cows or chickens, to get those nutrients. By going molecular we are arriving at a more sustainable means of feeding the human race and a cleaner way of delivering those nutrients untainted by toxic additives such as chemicals or insecticides. The think tank RethinkX, predicts a rapid acceptance of these "modern foods" that will leave the cattle industry effectively bankrupt by the year 2030.

Given these recent studies and the accelerating panic over rising CO2 levels and ecological destruction, it isn't far fetched to think that future generations will continue their shift away from animal sources of food over to more molecular and plant-based, vegan diets.

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Oxford: Vegan-based diet could cut food-related carbon emissions by 60% - Big Think

TEXAS A Texas mom says she sent her 5-year-old son to daycare with a special note inside his lunchbox: Please tell (my son) that his mommy loves him so much and Im thinking about him.

But when the boy returned home, the lunchbox contained an upsetting response: NO! Put him on a diet + GO AWAY!

It took a minute to register, what I even saw and I just kept re-reading it and I just stood there for a minute, the mother, Francesca Easdon, told CNN affiliate KTRK.

Easdon said in a Facebook post that her son, Kyler, is a picky eater, so shes introduced him to healthy options in his lunchbox and wanted to make him smile at lunch.

For the record, I feel that Kyler is absolutely perfect the way he is, Im just helping him make healthier choices, Easdon said in her post. Instead of his school being supportive I am in absolute shock at what happened.

An employee at the Rocking Horse Day Care in Kingwood, where the incident took place, admitted to writing the note and was fired, Easdon said. CNN could not independently confirm the employees status.

CNN contacted the daycare facility for comment and was referred to Jacques Verron, who was identified by the facility as an employee.

Asked if the staff member who wrote the note was fired, Verron scoffed and repeated the reporters questions, then said he wouldnt confirm the employee was in fact fired because he was worried he would be sued.

He pointed CNN to other media outlets that had reported the firing.

Francesca Easdon wrote on Facebook that the daycare has showed zero remorse for their actions.

I am disgusted that I put my trust in these people to care for my child and this is what I get in return.

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Day care worker tells mom to put 5-year-old son on a diet - PIX11 New York

A significant, global study of almost 1.5 million people found that eating a diet loaded with yogurt and fiber is a powerful way to slash your lung cancer risk.

Researchers looked at men and women in their 50s and found that folks who ate a lot of yogurt and had the most fiber intake (from whole grains, and fruits and veggies) cut their risk of lung cancer by more than 30% compared with folks eating very little fiber and no yogurt.

The researchers suggest that prebiotics from fiber and probiotics from yogurt are what help the immune system dodge lung cancer whether youre a current, past or never smoker.

So theres one more reason to eat only 100% whole grains, seven to nine servings of produce daily, and probiotic-rich foods like low- or no-fat yogurt, as well as kefir, sour dill pickles, kimchi, kombucha (a fermented tea), miso, natto (a food made from fermented soybeans), sauerkraut, the popular meat substitute tempeh and water- or brine-cured olives.

Plus, take a probiotic supplement with lactobacillus or in spore form daily.

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chairman of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

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Drs. Oz & Roizen: The anti-lung cancer diet - The Union Leader

When it comes to dieting, it can be hard to find one that suits you and your needs.

However, it's important to note that some eating patterns have more scientific backing than others.

We take a look at the ones that will get you shredded, while others may make you sick.

Wine and Egg Diet

In 1977, Vogue magazine published a "crash diet" for women called The Wine and Egg Diet.

As the name implies, this unusual and restrictive eating plan includes lots of wine and eggs, plus some steak with lemon juice, and coffee.

It may sound pretty good, but that's all you can eat for three days straight. You can have wine at breakfast and are encouraged to drink up to a bottle a day, with the diet promising that the follower will lose 2kg.

Recently, the diet went viral online, with many women trialling it. Most reported feeling dizzy and lethargic. They also experienced strong stomach pains.

Even if they did lose a little weight, all the participants agreed that they would not recommend it.

Lemon Detox Diet

The Lemon Detox Diet, or Master Cleanse, involves surviving solely on a concoction of water, lemon, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for more than a week.

Not only are you getting almost no nutrients or calories during this period, some users experience nausea and weakness as the days progress.

Almost all weight loss from this will be either temporary water weight or muscle mass, which will cause your metabolism to slow down.

So as soon as you start eating solid food again, expect to gain back what you lost and then some.

Cabbage Soup Diet

This fad diet has been doing the rounds for a long time! This simple meal plan consists of only cabbage soup, which is then eaten for every meal.

While it sounds easy, and will make batch-cooking simpler, there are no health benefits from eating the same food over and over.

A healthy diet requires eating a variety of foods to get adequate vitamins and minerals.

The cabbage soup is also short on protein and heart-healthy fats, both of which contribute to feeling satiated.

Balance is key, so this diet, along with other one-food diets like the grapefruit or boiled-egg diet, should be avoided.

Tapeworm Diet

Talk about extreme! The Tapeworm Diet pushes the boundaries of how far people are willing to go to lose weight.

The concept is that the dieter orders a tapeworm-egg capsule via a black market website.

They then swallow the pill and "magically" lose kilos.

Various health issues can arise from swallowing a parasite.

While the tapeworm grows and absorbs the calories, it also absorbs all the nutrients you consume.

Side effects include severe malnutrition, debilitating pain, nausea and diarrhoea.

The eggs also spread to multiple parts of your body and can cause life-threatening issues.The tapeworm is also hard to kill, and usually requires a hospital visit to remove.

Baby Food Diet

Created by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, who works with clients like Gwyneth Paltrow, the Baby Food Diet sees people replace two meals a day with jars of pureed peas and bananas.

But each jar contains about 70-100 calories, which is dangerously low for adults.

Mediterranean Diet

If you can't afford to sun yourself in the Mediterranean, you can at least adopt their diet!

It includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, whole grains, legumes, dairy products and extra virgin olive oil.

This eating plan has been proven to be effective for heart disease prevention.

Low-Carb, Whole-Food Diet

It's flexible, allowing you to fine-tune your carb intake.

This diet is high in vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, fruits, nuts, and fats, but low in starches, sugars and processed foods.

DASH Diet

Despite the name, this diet has nothing to do with being in a hurry.

DASH stands for "dietary approach to stop hypertension" and was created by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help reverse trends of obesity and heart disease.

The diet features plenty of vegies, fruits and low-fat dairy products, plus whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts.

It offers limited portions of red meat, sweets and sugary beverages.

Watch below: Everything you need to know about the DASH Diet. Post continues after video...

Dietitian and SunRice Ambassador Lyndi Cohen shares her three tips for making sustainable diet choices.

These days, diets are often disguised as a 'healthy lifestyle choice' or a 'way of eating'. The truth is that all diets work until they stop working.

While you may initially lose weight, if you can't maintain the diet, you'll end up struggling with consistency in the long run and create a bad relationship with food.

The truth is that you don't need to follow a restrictive diet to be healthier and feel comfortable in your body you simply need to adopt a healthier approach to food and live a more balanced lifestyle.Here are my three top tips for making sustainable choices to help you kick-start your journey:

1. There is no quick fix

There is no perfect diet for everyone. The trick to being healthy is to find what works for you and stick to it, instead of getting caught in a quick fix.

Before starting a new diet, ask yourself if you can live on this diet for the rest of your life. If you want to maintain the results for longer than a manicure, then you need to be able to say yes.

Be especially cautious of cutting out whole food groups, like carbs, as they're an important food group to include in your diet to make sure you're getting the nutrition you need.

2. Stock the pantry full of healthy, convenient foods

Realistically, you need to take shortcuts to make good health easier and more sustainable for you.

Keep the pantry stocked with convenient foods to help save time and energy, and to make sure you always have a healthier option available.

My favourite pantry staples are tins of legumes, nuts, tuna, and SunRice Infusions steamed rice, so you can add plenty of flavour to dishes without spending too much time in the kitchen.

3. Adopt healthy habits

Create habits that are sustainable. Maybe start meal prepping once a week to help you stay healthy during the week, or simply eat one more serve of wholegrains a day.

Little changes really do end up adding to something big.

Watch below: Healthy eating ideas to try. Post continues after video...

Protein is a vital part of your diet which helps the body to build and repair tissue.

Recent studies show that 46 per cent of people over 50 aren't eating enough protein.

As we age, protein is vital for maintaining health, and a lack of protein can increase the risk of falls and fractures.

But to get your fill you don't have to turn to a diet of steak.

Optimum Nutrition have just released a range of snacks that are high in protein and act as an afternoon treat.

From chocolate-covered nuts to cake bites, you can indulge while helping your body stay strong.

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The Most (And Least) Effective Diets For Weight Loss - Now To Love

Normally, high blood pressure varies throughout the day and may even be impacted by certain situations. It is already a cause for concern. However, if blood pressure readings, even while resting, are consistently high.

Having a high blood pressure means your heart needs to work overtime to pump blood throughout the body. While the process may appear harmless, and even normal to some, it can lead to the development of lethal diseases like stroke or heart attack.To prevent such conditions from worsening, it is important to implement some changes in your lifestyle. drinks to help lower blood pressure Photo: tom wieden - Pixabay

Blood Pressure Friendly Drinks

Having a regular healthy diet that is good for the heart is crucial to lowering blood pressure. Having blood pressure, friendly drinks can help achieve this goal.Recent studies reveal that unsalted tomato juice, beetroot juice, and hibiscus tea contain properties that could help lower blood pressure readings.

Unsalted Tomato Juice

Food Science & Nutrition recently published a study showing that drinking unsalted tomato juice can lower blood pressure readings in Japanese adults deemed at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The same drink has also been found to help lower their LDL cholesterol.

Around 184 males and 297 females participated in the study. Each of them was given maximum amounts of unsalted tomato juice, which they consumed throughout the year.

After one year, researchers found that many of the participants saw their blood pressure significantly drop. Some with a systolic blood pressure of 141.2 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of 83.3 mmHg at the studys commencement enjoyed lower readings at 137.0 mmHg and 80.9 mmHg, respectively

Beetroot Juice

In another study, researchers found that beetroot juice also helps in lowering blood pressure. Individuals who regularly drank eight ounces of beetroot juice enjoyed lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Researchers concluded that nitrates, a compound that beetroot juice is abundant with, were transformed into nitric acid as it entered the bloodstream. This helped relax and even widen the blood vessels, allowing for a smoother flow of blood to the heart and around the body.

Hibiscus Tea

This beverage is made by boiling some parts of the hibiscus plant. Research shows 65 people suffering from high blood pressure were given either placebos or hibiscus tea.

After several weeks, those who took hibiscus tea displayed a considerable decrease in their systolic blood pressure as compared to those who drank placebo.In a 2015 review of some five studies showed that hibiscus tea helped lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by at least 7.58 mmHg and 3.53 mmHg, respectively.

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Include These Drinks In Your Diet To Help Lower Blood Pressure Readings - International Business Times

Kate Middleton is known internationally for being the wife of Prince William, second-in-line to the British throne. She is also known for her good looks.

The Daily Mail reported she drinks smoothies morning and afternoon, containing spirulina, kale, matcha (a finely ground green tea powder), spinach, lettuce, cilantro and blueberries.

In the past it has been claimed the Duchess enjoys making roast dinners at home, and make curries and soups for the family too.

As well as eating healthily, there are a number food rules all royals are reported to follow.

These include avoiding starch in the evening if they are eating with the Queen.

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 - now estimated to be worth 30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator's Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Dianas engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported 250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge" and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.

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Kate Middletons diet plan and the food rules the Duchess of Cambridge follows - Express

A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. While the condition can come on suddenly and prove fatal, it is usually the result of an accumulation of poor lifestyle decisions, such as eating unhealthy foods. Sticking to a healthy, balanced diet therefore plays a vital role in preventing the deadly health complications, and research makes a strong case for regularly consuming a type of fish to avert the risk.

According to a study presented at the American Heart Associations 41st Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, older individuals are less likely to die from a heart attack if they eat at least one serving of fatty fish per week.

Fatty fish is the term used to describe oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, and good sources of oily fish include salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and trout.

The study found that eating fatty fish at least once per week was associated with a 44 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack among a group of older adults, average age 72.

In contrast, eating fried fish which is typically lean was not associated with a lower risk of dying from a heart attack. Examples of lean fish are cod, catfish and snapper.

READ MORE:Heart attack: The biggest signs you could be having a silent heart attack - what are they?

Researchers analysed the relationship between eating fatty fish, eating fried fish and the risk of fatal heart attack and coronary heart disease deaths among nearly 4,000 men and women older than age 65 involved in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes Cardiovascular Health Study, launched in 1988 to assess the risk factors of heart disease and strokes among older adults.

At the beginning of the study, all participants were free of known cardiovascular disease. Mozaffarian and his colleagues used a detailed food questionnaire to assess the participants usual diet and participants were followed for an average of 6.8 years.

The researchers did not determine which specific types of fatty fish were consumed, therefore it is not possible to recommend one type of fatty fish, tuna or salmon, for example, over another.

Commenting on the findings, Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., lead author of the study and fellow in cardiology and health services research at the University of Washington/Seattle Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said: Fatty fish are more abundant in omega-3 fatty acids, while fried fish are typically lean fish without significant omega-3 fatty acids. Because these omega-3 fatty acids may protect against dying from a heart attack, eating fatty fish may be of greater benefit than eating fried fish.

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For optimal health benefits, oily fish should be enjoyed as part of a Mediterranean-style diet, which also includes fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals and modest amounts of meat and low-fat dairy.

Evidence suggests that following Mediterranean-style diet can almost halve your risk of developing heart disease, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 64th Annual Scientific Session in San Diego.

The study found that adults who closely followed the Mediterranean diet were 47 percent less likely to develop heart disease over a 10-year period compared to similar adults who did not closely follow the diet.

To gather the findings, the researchers analysed data from a representative sample of more than 2,500 Greek adults, ages 18 to 89, who provided researchers with their health information each year from 2001 to 2012.

Participants also completed in-depth surveys about their medical records, lifestyle and dietary habits at the start of the study, after five years and after 10 years.

"Our study shows that the Mediterranean diet is a beneficial intervention for all types of people- in both genders, in all age groups, and in both healthy people and those with health conditions," said Ekavi Georgousopoulou, a Ph.D. candidate at Harokopio University in Athens, Greece, who conducted the study along with Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Ph.D., professor at Harokopio University.

Georgousopoulou added: "It also reveals that the Mediterranean diet has direct benefits for heart health, in addition to its indirect benefits in managing diabetes, hypertension and inflammation."

In addition to diet, exercise forms an essential part of heart attack prevention.

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Heart attack: Eat this type of fish at least once a week to slash your risk - Express

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Theres more evidence that eating a lot of processed food increases the risk for memory loss and Alzheimers disease. The FDA has banned trans fat, but its still in all kinds of products.

Scientists say trans fat, found mainly in processed food, impacts blood flow and can reduce serotonin production, leading to depression and memory loss.

Even though its being fazed out, trans fat is still in coffee creamer, popcorn and all kinds of snacks and frozen foods.

Hydrogenated oil used to increase shelf life has been linked to heart disease, and now theres more evidence that trans fat increases the risk for Alzheimers disease.

The new study covered 1,600 people over the age of 60, who had normal brain function.

Researchers measured the levels of trans fats in their blood, as well as their overall health and diet, and followed up after 10 years.

What they see is that having higher levels of trans fat in the blood increases your risk of onset of dementia whether its from Alzheimers disease as a cause of dementia, or other kinds of dementia, Dr. Jagan Pillai said.

After adjusting for other dementia risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking the researchers found the dementia risk was 52% more likely among those with the highest levels of trans fat.

The best way to avoid trans fat is to eliminate or reduce eating processed food.

A healthy diet of whole grains, produce and healthy fat can have a protective effect on the risk of developing dementia.

This research clearly demonstrates that your diet and what youre putting in your body has an impact on the onset of dementia later on in life, Pillai said.

Even though its technically banned, experts say foods with less than a half-gram of trans fats can be labeled as containing zero.

So if you eat a lot of processed food, that trans fat accumulates and can cause dementia and other problems.

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Study: Eating Too Much Processed Food Increases Risk Of Memory Loss, Alzheimers Disease - CBS Pittsburgh