What if one of the foods you have probably been told to avoid could actually help protect your brain from a deadly disease?
It sounds almost too good to be true. After all, canned food has long carried a less-than-healthy reputation, with many people associating it with preservatives, excessive sodium and highly processed ingredients.
But according to one doctor, there is a particular type of canned food that could potentially help lower your risk of developing a devastating condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
And the surprising part? You may already have these foods sitting in the supermarket aisle you have been 'avoiding the entire time'.
With cases of this disease rising rapidly around the world, the doctor's recommendation has certainly raised some eyebrows especially because it involves something as simple as adding certain canned foods to your shopping basket.
In Malaysia, the number of people living with dementia is rising rapidly. In 2020, an estimated 204,000 to 264,000 Malaysians had dementia, with projections suggesting the figure could triple by 2050 as the country's population continues to age.
Today, around one in 12 Malaysians, roughly 330,000 people, are affected, and the number is expected to continue climbing in the years ahead.
The situation is equally concerning worldwide. Dementia-related deaths rose sharply from 0.56 million in 1990 to 1.62 million in 2019, with the figure projected to reach 4.91 million by 2050.
Dementia is already the seventh leading cause of death globally and remains a major cause of disability among older adults.
A report from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), published in Nature Reviews, predicts that dementia will rank among the top 10 causes of death in 166 of 195 countries.
The report also projects that dementia will rank among the top five causes of death in 121 countries, the top two in 53 countries, and become the leading cause of death in 19 countries.
By 2040, dementia is anticipated to become the third leading cause of death globally.
With dementia becoming increasingly prevalent, the growing burden demands urgent attention. Without effective preventive measures and policies, families and healthcare systems could face an immense financial and social burden.
According to one medic, however, our diet could play an important role in influencing the risk of developing dementia.*
Dr Annette Bosworth, better known online as Dr Boz, believes there are five specific foods that people should consider putting in their shopping baskets to potentially help lower their risk.
The doctor explained that people tend to 'avoid' these canned foods, despite their potential health benefits.
So, you might want to step outside your comfort zone and reconsider your shopping list the next time you head to the supermarket.
Dr Boz, who regularly shares health advice on social media, previously posted a short clip discussing the 'five best canned food for preventing dementia'.
She revealed that all five can conveniently be found in the same supermarket aisle - although, according to her, it is probably the aisle you have 'been avoiding the entire time'.
The Florida-based physician, who specialises in 'reversing chronic illness through a ketogenic lifestyle', believes that it all starts with what we eat.
They don't say you are what you eat for nothing, you know.
In a clip shared on her YouTube channel last year, Dr Boz said that eating canned fish could be key to lowering your risk of dementia.
"The five best canned fish with high Omega 3, high Vitamin D and low mercury is SMASH - salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring," she said.
"Next time you walk out the door, stick a can of fish in your pocket and have it for lunch. Your brain will thank you."
Among the five, Dr Boz is particularly enthusiastic about sardines and is a strong advocate of the sardine diet.
As the name suggests, the diet involves eating oily fish almost exclusively for an extended period of time.
The doctor claims that this can jump-start the metabolism and push the body into advanced ketosis, allowing it to rapidly burn fat for energy while potentially providing other health benefits.
Canned sardines, Dr Boz said, 'have one of the best macronutrient profiles on the planet'.
The fish are rich in essential nutrients, relatively low in calories and can provide a range of health benefits when incorporated into a balanced diet.
According to Web MD, studies have shown that sardines may support the health of the heart, eyes and brain, while also strengthening bones, improving blood vessel function and easing inflammation.
Discussing the benefits of eating sardines, Dr Boz continued: "20g of protein, 20g of fat and no carbohydrates. One can is extremely satiating, with only 250 calories.
"It's also the healthiest source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Fish is also rich in Vitamin D, [which is] one of the most common deficiencies I see in my clinic and another risk factor for dementia."
She then seemingly referenced a 2023 scientific review that she was involved in alongside other experts.
The review found that 'those with a higher Omega 3 level reduced their risk of dementia by 17% in the ladies and a staggering 26% in men'.
There is also research suggesting that ketogenic diets may have an impact on cognitive function. Boffins put a 47-year-old woman with Down syndrome who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease on a ketogenic diet and said it 'restored her cognitive functions' over a period of just six weeks.
The patient's cognitive scores returned to their 'baseline function', while there were also 'improvements in behavioural and mood symptoms'.
However, diet is not the only lifestyle factor being examined when it comes to dementia prevention.
As well as incorporating more Omega 3-packed fish into your diet, another doctor suggested that we should make some changes to our morning routines to avoid potentially raising our risk of dementia.
Aaron Colt (aaronafter@hotmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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