Alzheimers Association recommends salmon, oily fish

USA TODAY: Challenging the brain is not the only way to ward off Alzheimer's. Studies, including one out today in Neurology, also suggest that risk factors for heart disease might also lead to Alzheimer's. To keep the brain (and the heart) healthy, here's what William Thies of the Alzheimer's Association recommends:

* Increase your daily intake of colorful fruits and vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries and oranges. These contain antioxidants that fight damage to brain cells.

* Eat more oily fish such as salmon, halibut, trout and tuna. They are rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

* To get more omega-3 fatty acids, some experts, such as Greg Cole of the University of California, Los Angeles, recommend a daily fish oil capsule.

* Include nuts such as almonds, pecans and walnuts in your diet. They also contain antioxidants.

* Steer clear of foods high in saturated fats, such as processed foods, high-fat dairy products, fast food and fried foods.

* People who drink should take note of a study released last week in The New England Journal of Medicine: Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston say that a glass of wine, beer or a standard shot of liquor a day might help keep the brain in top shape. However, this and other research has shown that having more than one drink a day doesn't help. In fact, heavy drinking can harm the brain.