Don't Forget Your Juice

Your morning glass of juice may be a brain saver.

Drinking fruit or vegetable juice at least three times per week may lower a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, a recent study suggests. Antioxidants in the juice may be responsible for the effect. To keep your waistline from expanding, choose low-calorie or pure juices without any added sugar.

In addition to drinking juice, another way to get your daily fill of antioxidants is to eat whole fruit, which also will add fiber to your diet. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables may protect your brain against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide and certain proteins.

In a recent study, researchers discovered that people who drank three or more servings of fruit or vegetable juice per week were much less likely to develop Alzheimer's than people who drank juice less than once per week. More research is needed to confirm the findings, but in the meantime, juice remains a quick and easy way to get an additional serving of fruit in your diet. Regular exercise and mental stimulation help ward off dementia as well.

Need More Nuts and Seeds

Having a handful of almonds and sunflower seeds may be a cancer deterrent.

Almonds and sunflower seeds are good sources of vitamin E. Research has revealed that a diet high in vitamin E may be linked to a reduced risk of bladder cancer. One ounce of almonds contains almost 8 IU of vitamin E. One quarter-cup of sunflower seeds contains about 7 IU.