Bon appetit for those little grey cells!

Ooh la la and sacre bleu! A French study has revealed that a Mediterranean diet is not as good for the head as it is for the heart.

Hopes that it would help ageing brains have been dashed, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study, led by Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot at the nutritional epidemiology research center of the French national health research agency INSERM, used data from more than 3,000 people who were followed from the mid-1990s, when they were at least 45 years old. It measured the cognitive performance at around age 65 but it found no connection between Mediterranean eating and mental performance.

However, previous studies have shown that this type of diet can benefit the little grey cells.

One large American study in the Midwest found that people in their 60s and older who ate a mostly Mediterranean diet were less prone to mental decline as they aged.

And another US study, this time conducted among older Americans living in northern Manhattan linked Mediterranean-style diets to a 40 per cent reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Here at NaturalCures, we’ve been doing a little research of our own and so especially for you mes amis, we have put together our top 10 brain-boosting foods for you to tuck in and enjoy:

1. Oily Fish – Rich in omega-3 fats, make sure you include lots of wild-caught salmon, trout, mackerel, herrings, sardines, pilcahrds and kippers in your diet.
2. Blueberries – Binge on them! These little powerhouses of nutrition and full of anti-oxidants and therefore protect the brain from oxidative stress.
3. Avocados – Because it contains monounsaturated fat, it is good for increasing blood flow to the brain.
4. Whole grains – Get stuck in to the oatmeal, whole-grain breads, brown rice and brown pasta which release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, keeping you alert.
5. Tomatoes – A rich source of lycopene, a powerful anti-oxidant which helps protect against free radical damage to cells which can occur in the early stages of dementia.
6. Blackcurrant – A boost of these delicious fruits will create mental agility because they are packed with Vitamin C.
7. Pumpkin Seeds – Just a handful a day is all you need to get your recommended daily amount of zinc, vital for enhancing memory and thinking skills.
8. Broccoli – Go green for brain power! Broccoli is a rich source of Vitamin K which enhances cognitive function and improves brainpower. Try other leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale and cabbage.
9. Beetroot – Eat it whole or in juice form. Because it is a high nitrate food, it helps opens blood vessels and therefore increases blood flow to the brain.
10. Nuts – A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology reveals nuts, rich in Vitamin E, help to protect against cognitive decline. So go nuts for them!

For our members, don’t forget you can read our Natural Cure for Alzheimer’s which tells you how to protect against and treat dementia using diet, cleansing and a whole range of complementary therapies and remedies. Just click here to read it.