A Diet That Delays Dementia

Article submitted by Randall J. Bjork, M.D. of the Colorado Springs Neurological Associates, P.C. For further information, his offices can be reached at 719-473-3272 or www.csneuro.com.

Finally, a diet that is healthy and very groovy. We in the world of neurology have been following the research on The Mediterranean Diet for years and find ourselves convinced that this one makes the other regimented diets seem boring and strait-laced. First of all, I direct the good reader to the fine work being done by Dr. Richard Mayeux at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

He has just published another article in the current issue of “Neurology”, September 11, 2007, regarding The Mediterranean Diet. He concludes that this blessed and glorious plate not only delays dementia of the Alzheimer type, but it also helps you live longer if you start to become forgetful in that way.

As one might deduce from the name of it, The Mediterranean Diet is what has been enjoyed along the shorelines of The Mediterranean Sea for centuries. Anyone who has been there knows that this is a region of enchantment, as civilization (as we know it), political systems (as we know them), art, poetry, literature, architecture, mythology and religion stem from that Sea in the Middle of the Land. The diet has been around for a long time, as it’s also called “The Jesus Diet.” Biblical scholars will easily recount the foodstuffs mentioned in scripture with symbolic reverence: bread, fish, grapes, olives and oil. Nowadays, variants such as hummus, babaganoush, kibbee, tabouleh, grape leaves, lamb chops, dates, figs, baclava and Turkish coffee are perfectly legitimate. Biblical Wine, probably a Syrah, was relied upon not only for ceremony, but for hydration, as water quality was not very dependable in those days without county health departments. Let me caution you, however, that the alcohol content of Biblical Wine was less than our current varietals, so wine is now a diuretic of sorts. In summary, I think that it is a very healthy, enjoyable and spiritual diet. We are what we eat (and drink).

To find out more about The Mediterranean Diet, Google it.