A major 2024 update from the Lancet Commission on dementia found that up to 45% of dementia cases worldwide are tied to 14 modifiable risk factors — things you can actually do something about. Not a cure. Not a guarantee. But real, researched odds you can shift in your favor.
These are 14 lifestyle and health factors WE NEED TO MANAGE OR AVOID to reduce dementia risk:
Early Life
* Less education
Midlife (Ages 40–65)
* Hearing loss (simply wear your hearing aids) * High LDL cholesterol * High blood pressure * Obesity * Traumatic brain injury * Alcohol excess
Later Life (Ages 65+)
* Vision loss (simply wear your glasses) * Smoking * Depression * Social isolation * Physical inactivity * Air pollution * Diabetes
It’s never too late! Modify these factors NOW, no matter what your age is. Read more here:
1️⃣ Mix together the Greek-style soy yogurt, soy milk, and vanilla until smooth. 2️⃣ Scatter the frozen raspberries over the top without mixing them in. 3️⃣ Freeze overnight in your Ninja Creami container. 4️⃣ Process on the Ice Cream setting until creamy and smooth. 5️⃣ Enjoy immediately for the perfect raspberry ripple texture ✨
REPLACE ALL SNACKS W/ LOADS OF YOUR FAVORITE FRUITS & VEGGIES
REDUCE FAT INTAKE
*************
I fill the OTHER half plate w/ lots beans & starchy veggies:
Tubers & Root Vegetables
White potatoes (Russet, Yukon Gold, red, etc.)
Sweet potatoes
Yams
Cassava (yuca)
Taro root
Malanga
Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes)
Corn
Sweet corn
Corn on the cob
Corn kernels (fresh, frozen, canned)
Peas & Legumes (when eaten as vegetables)
Green peas
Split peas (dried)
Black-eyed peas
Lima beans
Fava (broad) beans
Winter Squash
Butternut squash
Acorn squash
Kabocha squash
Hubbard squash
Delicata squash
Buttercup squash
Pumpkin (lower in starch than most winter squash but still often grouped with them)
Other Starchy Vegetables
Plantains
Green bananas (used as a vegetable in many cuisines
*************
For a whole-food, plant-based diet like those promoted by John McDougall, Caldwell Esselstyn, and T. Colin Campbell, starchy vegetables are not considered unhealthy. In fact, they are often encouraged as staple foods because they provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. AND THEY FILL YOU UP!
If your goal is weight loss, a practical approach is:
Fill about ½ your plate with non-starchy vegetables.
Fill the remaining ½ with starches (potatoes, sweet potatoes, whole grains, beans, etc.) and other whole plant foods.
Avoid adding oils and keep high-calorie toppings to a minimum.
This approach provides plenty of volume and nutrition while helping keep overall calorie density relatively low.
Thinly sliced baked tofu seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic, onion powder, fennel seed, black pepper, and a touch of tomato paste makes an excellent oil-free pepperoni substitute.
This style of pizza is surprisingly satisfying because the potato-bean “cheese” gives the creamy richness without the saturated fat. It fits very well with an Esselstyn/McDougall/Campbell approach while still tasting like comfort food. 🍕
1. Add everything to a food processor. 2. Blend until smooth, adding aquafaba or water a tablespoon at a time until creamy. 3. Taste and adjust the lemon, garlic, and paprika. 4. Chill for 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
To replace the richness of the oil
Try one of these:
* 1–2 tbsp cooked white beans * 1–2 tbsp cooked potato * 1 tbsp unsweetened plant yogurt * Extra aquafaba for an especially fluffy texture
These make the hummus creamy without adding much fat.
Approximate nutrition (without tahini):
* About 50–60 calories per 2-tablespoon serving * <1 g fat * 2–3 g protein * 3–4 g fiber
If following McDougall – Esselstyn – Campbell very strictly, we omit both the olive oil and tahini entirely. You’ll still get a smooth, flavorful hummus thanks to the roasted red pepper, chickpeas, lemon, garlic, and aquafaba.
EXERCISE: * Powerwalk indoors 3 miles * PT APP workout –lower body stretch/stengthening
WATER: (2) × (32) = 64 oz (+)
EATS: * banana * baked potato w/ wautéed veggies, whole wheat pita & lowfat hummus (I rinse the oil off these veggies w/ very hot water before using them) * last ice cream sandwich made of high protein chickpea cookies, frozen orange sweet-potato banana ice cream * sliced peach & hearts of palm crispy “mozzarella sticks” dipped in mustard
… SUN HAS SET …
Cmmt: XL indicates uncommonly excessive food, and wautéed means water-sautéed