Speed up your brain's aging process with these identified culprits:

Speed up your brain's aging process with these identified culprits:

Breakfast, my go-to meal of the day, is something I truly look forward to each morning. There's just something about starting the day off right with some nutritious grub that gives me the inspiration to keep up the healthy momentum.

From Monday to Saturday, I'm quite content with my berries and yogurt, scrambled eggs, a banana and greens smoothie, or a giant bowl of oatmeal. But as soon as the weekends roll around and the family's all gathered, my weakness for sausage and bacon surely rears its head.

I know all too well that processed meats like these aren't exactly beneficial for my heart or blood sugar levels. That's why I make an effort to keep my consumption limited. However, recent studies seem to suggest that these tempting meats might be even worse than I ever imagined—and here's why I've been reconsidering totally eliminating them from my diet...

Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that folks who consumed around two servings of processed red meat a week faced a staggering 14% increase in the risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate less processed meats like bacon, sausage, or hot dogs.

For context, a single serving equates to just two slices of bacon, one hot dog, or 2 ounces of sausage, salami, bologna, or similar processed meats.

Scary stuff, right? What's even scarier, every extra daily serving of processed red meat was associated with an additional 1.61 years of cognitive aging and 1.69 years of verbal memory loss.

On the flip side, swapping out a daily serving of bacon or the like for a serving of nuts or legumes—such as a tablespoon of peanut butter, a handful of nuts, or a helping of beans at lunch or dinner—led to a 20% decrease in dementia risk and 1.37 fewer years of brain aging.

So the message here is clear: we can control the threat to our brain health posed by processed red meats. Committing to a diet free of these meats could prove crucial to maintaining a healthy, functioning brain well into our golden years.

However, it's no easy feat to swap savory bacon for bland almonds or nuts. That's why I don't rely on willpower alone to steer clear of processed meats. My weapon of choice in this quest for brain health? Phosphatidylserine (PS), a nutrient that nourishes the brain cells I care so much about.

PS is a vital component of cell membranes, particularly in the neurons of your brain, and plays a crucial role in creating, sustaining, and repairing brain cells. The body does manufacture some PS naturally, but production decreases with age. To keep my levels in check, I make daily supplementation a part of my regimen.

In fact, studies have shown that PS supplementation enhances memory retention during delayed verbal recall, a type of memory test that evaluates one's ability to recall a sequence of words hours after learning them[1]. This type of verbal recall is one of the first abilities to deteriorate in the early stages of cognitive decline, and the accelerated cognitive aging observed in participants consuming high amounts of processed red meat is concerning as it aligns with this decline[2].

If you just can't imagine life without bacon or sausage, don't worry, I've got your back. Just make sure to keep a bottle of PS nearby as a reminder to nourish your brain cells every single day.

Editor's note: Conditions like premature aging and disease can be mitigated by maintaining an alkaline balance in your body. Load up on alkaline-rich foods and shed those sicknesses, my friend[3].

Sources:

[1] Dementia Risk Linked With Processed Red Meat - MEDPAGETODAY[2] Environmental Determinants of Dementia - Alzheimer's Association[3] The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality - Life Extension Magazine

1. Although I enjoy the taste of sausage and bacon, I'm aware that their frequent consumption may not be beneficial for heart health or brain health, as processed red meat has been linked to a 14% increase in the risk of developing dementia.
2. It's alarming that every extra daily serving of processed red meat can lead to an additional 1.61 years of cognitive aging and 1.69 years of verbal memory loss. Yet, substituting processed red meat with nutrient-rich options like nuts or legumes can decrease dementia risk by 20%.
3. To preserve brain health and limit the threat posed by processed red meats, I've turned to supplementing with Phosphatidylserine (PS), a nutrient that maintains and repairs brain cells, especially during the early stages of cognitive decline.
4. Incorporating alkaline-rich foods into one's diet is also crucial for overall health and wellness, boosting the body's alkaline balance to help fend off conditions like premature aging and disease.

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