NEW RESEARCH ON DEMENTIA – AND COCONUT CHOCOLATE BRAIN BALLS FOR EXAM-SITTING TEENS

  It’s National Dementia Week and two really great things have happened:

1) We’ve launched Kale and Cocoa.

2) For the first time there has been an acknowledgment from a government-funded body that lifestyle IS a factor in reducing the risk of dementia.

This rather dry tweet from @PHE-uk (Public Health England) is SO important:

“There is enough evidence that lifestyle contributes to risk of developing #dementia to justify including risk reduction in health policies.”

Up till now, government spending has focussed on encouraging us to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes in later life by adopting healthier lifestyles – for the first time dementia will be added to that list. Which means that the Kale and Cocoa mantra – ‘eat well, age well’ – has government backing (kind of). Love that.

What is emerging more and more from all the research is that ‘what is good for the heart is good for the brain’. Dr Charles Alessi, senior advisor and dementia prevention lead at PHE, said: “We need to start to “think brain, think heart” as brain health is inexorably linked to heart health and we can add healthy years to our lives by reducing risks earlier in our lives.” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/call-for-new-policy-focus-on-brain-health-to-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia

But it’s actually young brains which have been getting a lot of attention in our homes this week, with exam-sitting teens stressing out all over the place. So – ever on the look-out for healthy snacks – I took a load of ingredients that are reportedly good for the brain AND COVERED THEM IN CHOCOLATE. Please don’t tell me that’s a bad thing.

RECIPE: COCONUT CHOCOLATE BRAIN BALLS

75g coconut oil (and see our post on the benefits of coconut oil here)

60g almond butter

50g coconut flakes

2tbs goji berries or cranberries

80g oats (you might need a handful more if the mixture is looking very oily)

1tsp vanilla essence

50g dark or milk chocolate

Gently warm the coconut oil and almond butter together in a medium sized bowl in the microwave. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, except the chocolate. Put the bowl in the fridge for around 20mins, until the mixture is firm. With wet hands, shape walnut-sized balls of the mixture – it’s very crumbly. Melt the chocolate and pour about half a teaspoon over each brain ball. Keep in the fridge.

Susan