Brain Health and A Great Recipe to Help Protect It!
I have been getting so many emails with articles on brain health lately, that I’ve wondered if there’s something going on I don’t know about. Seems like every health and wellness site, as well as food and diet sites are talking about it.
As an example, here’s what came this morning from www.veghealthinstitute.com: “Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel, and can be damaged if you ingest anything low quality.”
Thousands of studies tell us exactly which foods can harm the brain. And thank goodness, we also know from this exhaustive research, which ones can improve brain performance and help with overall mental/emotional health.
Today’s research is consistently showing that your diet plays a huge role in how well the brain ages. It’s been found now, that diet actually has the potential to lower your risk of Alzheimer's, dementia-related diseases and other risks to your brain health.
Renowned neurologists Ayesha and Dean Sherzai, MD have helped tens of thousands of people to boost their brain health and wellness and created this awesome one-sheeter that shows the top 10 foods that have been proven to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia — and the top 10 to avoid.
As you look at these two lists, you won’t be surprised. We’ve been talking for years now about eating a more whole food, plant-based diet (WFPB). Maybe you’re getting worn out with it. But I thought it wouldn’t hurt one more time to bang this drum. Brain health is a big deal. Who wants to spend their last years in an Alzheimer’s care center? Right? So it’s marvelous news that a WFPB diet can protect us from this outcome!
Anyway, with all that said, I thought I’d close with a terrific recipe that can start us all on the good brain health path. You’ll notice on the above list, that CHEESE is listed as one of the WORST foods we can eat. This breaks my heart. I could eat my weight in cheese, I like it so much. So, when a friend, whom I consider to be one of the very best cooks I know, shared this recipe for a “cheese” sauce, I was all over it. She said it was as good as the real deal. I tried it, and she’s right! If you’re a cheese lover, too, then you’ll want to give this a try.
1 cup raw cashew nuts
2 cups butternut squash or sweet potatoes
8-10 cloves garlic peeled
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 cups unsweetened milk alternative (almond is very good)
2 tablespoons white miso or chickpea miso
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 dash pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 dash cayenne pepper optional
Directions:
Add Recipe to Cook'n
As an example, here’s what came this morning from www.veghealthinstitute.com: “Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel, and can be damaged if you ingest anything low quality.”
Thousands of studies tell us exactly which foods can harm the brain. And thank goodness, we also know from this exhaustive research, which ones can improve brain performance and help with overall mental/emotional health.
Today’s research is consistently showing that your diet plays a huge role in how well the brain ages. It’s been found now, that diet actually has the potential to lower your risk of Alzheimer's, dementia-related diseases and other risks to your brain health.
Renowned neurologists Ayesha and Dean Sherzai, MD have helped tens of thousands of people to boost their brain health and wellness and created this awesome one-sheeter that shows the top 10 foods that have been proven to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia — and the top 10 to avoid.
As you look at these two lists, you won’t be surprised. We’ve been talking for years now about eating a more whole food, plant-based diet (WFPB). Maybe you’re getting worn out with it. But I thought it wouldn’t hurt one more time to bang this drum. Brain health is a big deal. Who wants to spend their last years in an Alzheimer’s care center? Right? So it’s marvelous news that a WFPB diet can protect us from this outcome!
Anyway, with all that said, I thought I’d close with a terrific recipe that can start us all on the good brain health path. You’ll notice on the above list, that CHEESE is listed as one of the WORST foods we can eat. This breaks my heart. I could eat my weight in cheese, I like it so much. So, when a friend, whom I consider to be one of the very best cooks I know, shared this recipe for a “cheese” sauce, I was all over it. She said it was as good as the real deal. I tried it, and she’s right! If you’re a cheese lover, too, then you’ll want to give this a try.
HEALTHY "Cheese" Sauce
Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashew nuts
2 cups butternut squash or sweet potatoes
8-10 cloves garlic peeled
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 cups unsweetened milk alternative (almond is very good)
2 tablespoons white miso or chickpea miso
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 dash pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 dash cayenne pepper optional
Directions:
1. Soak cashews overnight in water; drain.
2. Combine cashews, squash, garlic, vinegar in a pot and cover with water (4 to 5 cups).
3. Simmer approximately 20 minutes; drain.
4. While nuts and squash are simmering, place miso, yeast, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a blender.
5. Add drained nuts and squash.
6. Blend on low; gradually increase speed while slowly pouring milk alternative. Blend until smooth.
NOTES: Cooking the sauce will make it even thicker. This makes a great queso sauce by adding some salsa. Delicious over steamed veggies, on pizza, pasta, or used as a dip.
2. Combine cashews, squash, garlic, vinegar in a pot and cover with water (4 to 5 cups).
3. Simmer approximately 20 minutes; drain.
4. While nuts and squash are simmering, place miso, yeast, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a blender.
5. Add drained nuts and squash.
6. Blend on low; gradually increase speed while slowly pouring milk alternative. Blend until smooth.
NOTES: Cooking the sauce will make it even thicker. This makes a great queso sauce by adding some salsa. Delicious over steamed veggies, on pizza, pasta, or used as a dip.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Sources:
www.health.clevelandclinic.org
www.ideas.ted.com
www.foodrevolution.org
www.thelifejolie.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
