Cognitive impairment

What is cognitive impairment?

Mild cognitive impairment is an intermediate stage between normal cognitive deterioration that comes naturally with age and the more serious deterioration of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment.

If you have mild cognitive impairment, you may be aware that your memory or your mental functions are ‘not quite right’. Your family and close friends may also have noticed some changes, though generally, these changes are not so serious as to interfere in your daily life and normal activities.

Mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later developing dementia, caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological conditions. Although some people with mild cognitive impairment do not worsen and a few eventually improve.

Nutritional recommendations and general healthy habits for the maintenance of a good state of health

• Have a varied diet.
• Do not take foods that are too hot or too cold.
• Consume water in abundance.
• Avoid toxic environments and contaminated with smoke, tobacco …
• Stroll through natural areas, parks … where you can breathe purer air without polluting.
• Avoid meat products, especially red meat and derivatives such as sausages.
• In general, you can not take baked goods or pastries.
• You should also avoid the consumption of pre-cooked and dried fast-food type soup soups.
• Avoid or reduce salt consumption to a minimum. When you consume it, choose preferably unrefined salt. You can substitute the garnishes of the meals with spices, for example.
• To cook and dress your dishes, always use extra virgin olive oil, prioritizing its raw consumption.
• Our advice is to take fatty or semi-fatty fish (blue fish) 2 to 3 times a week. Varies the fish: salmon, red mullet, sardines, horse mackerel, bonito, tuna, mackerel, anchovy, etc.
• Increase the daily consumption of vegetables.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• Do not consume industrial processed products rich in sugars, salt, oils and additives that are harmful to health (cookies, toast, bread, industrial cereals …).
• It prioritizes the consumption of whole grains and avoids refined flours (white bread, pasta, biscuits …).
• The techniques of preparation of preference are: cooking, steaming or iron. Do not take fried, breaded, barbecued or barbecues.
• It is important to perform some activity that improves breathing or lung function, deep breathing exercises, outdoors, yoga ..
• Perform some relaxing activity such as meditation to regulate stress levels.
• Eat seated and relaxed. Rest before and after meals especially in chronic lung disease.

References