The MIND diet recommends limiting red and processed meats to no more than 15 ounces per week. This includes beef, pork products, lamb, sausage, and luncheon meats such as bologna and salami. The saturated fats and substances produced during cooking in these meat products have been associated with inflammation, which we know is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have linked daily consumption of processed meats, cooked or not, to a higher incidence of dementia. Whether or not unprocessed red meat is truly harmful is a controversial subject among researchers, and a finite conclusion is unlikely to be made any time soon.

Cheese is another disputable food worth questioning. At its origin, the MIND diet advised against more than 2 ounces of full fat cheese a week. Again, saturated fat was considered the culprit in causing inflammation, leading to a number of chronic health conditions. However, more recent research suggests the saturated fats in dairy products are health-protective.

Butter and stick margarine (yikes! Stick margarine still exists?) are not advisable for supporting brain health. Whether butter is that harmful is debatable - as mentioned above, the saturated fats in dairy foods may actually help prevent disease. However, stick margarine is most certainly a no-go! Omega-6 fats are known to increase the bad cholesterol and increase inflammation. Fortunately, the artificial production of harmful trans fats that used to fill margarine has been banned.