Heart & Soul (& Brain)

My article on the link between heart and mind is up over at Harvard Health Blog. I had so much fun researching this connection, and incorporating the new WHO guidelines on dementia prevention. It all makes such good sense. From the article:

“We have long known that the diseases and conditions that clog the arteries of the heart also clog the arteries of the rest of the body, including the brain. It all boils down to damage of the arteries, the blood vessels that are critical for blood flow and oxygen delivery to the organs. Arterial damage leads to arterial blockages, which lead to heart disease and heart attacks, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and vascular dementia.”

The pathophysiology is fascinating, and how it’s linked to diet and lifestyle choices is mind-blowing (literally). Check out the article!

Don’t have time right now? Here’s the summary below:

“Even if someone has a family history of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s dementia, and even if they already have mild cognitive impairment (forgetfulness, confusion), they can still reduce their risk of developing dementia by simply living a heart-healthy lifestyle. That means a minimum of 150 minutes per week of activity, a plant-based diet aiming for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, avoiding toxic foods like processed grains, added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, avoiding or quitting smoking, and curbing alcohol use as much as possible.”

Now let’s go live healthy! Not sure how? Well let me tell you, I wrote an easy-to-follow guide on this, and I’m getting feedback from readers that it’s really helping them. Check it out!