Would you change your diet if doing so could actually improve your cognitive ability? A recent study conducted in Spain by JAMA Internal medicine revealed that very well might be the case for those who follow the Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet is so named because it mimics the eating and lifestyle habits of those who live in the Mediterranean—countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece, just to name a few. The diet emphasizes the consumption of fish and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats and oils. It also allows for a moderate amount of pasta and red wine consumption. Processed foods are discouraged.

The science behind the Mediterranean Diet’s impact on brain health consists of eating lots of antioxidant rich foods. Why are antioxidants important to cognition? Antioxidants fight free radicals that contribute to cellular damage within our bodies. Cellular damage ages our bodies and causes dementia. It can result in diseases within virtually every major organ and system within the body.