Q There are a couple of best-selling diet books that claim eating wheat can cause all kinds of health problems. I’m particularly concerned about the claim that wheat is bad for your brain. Would a gluten-free diet really reduce my chances of developing dementia?
A Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of age-related dementia have been linked with low-level chronic inflammation, and diet appears to be one of the driving forces.
Some have argued that wheat (or gluten) is one of the things that makes our diets so inflammatory, particularly the modern strains of wheat that have been developed over the last hundred years. However, this remains a controversial — and largely unproven — assertion.
In his best-selling book Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter’s prescription for brain health is a diet that’s very low in grains, sugars and other sources of carbohydrates, and very high in fat. However, there is little evidence that shows his approach will, in fact, reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia. In fact, the available evidence seems to point in the other direction.
The Mediterranean diet, DASH diet and MIND diet are three different dietary approaches that have all been linked to a markedly reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia. These three healthy dietary patterns are also associated with reduced inflammation, along with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Although each of these diets is slightly different, all three promote the consumption of whole grains (including wheat), along with plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes; moderate amounts of fish, dairy and meat; and healthy sources of fat such as nuts, avocado and olive oil. These diets also suggest you limit your intake of sweets, refined grains (i.e., foods made with white flour) and fried foods.
If you’re looking for a way to bolster your brain (and your health in general), I would consider any of these proven approaches to be a better bet!
