Get Well with Jitka

08/01/2026

07/25/2026

🧠 Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?
While there's no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, growing evidence shows that many everyday lifestyle choices can help support long-term brain health.

The World Health Organization's updated guidelines focus on practical habits that many of us can start today, including:

Eating a healthy dietary pattern
Staying physically active
Managing blood pressure and diabetes
Keeping your brain active
Staying socially connected
Taking hearing loss seriously
Not smoking
These recommendations aren't about finding a miracle supplement or a single "brain food." They're about the power of healthy lifestyle habits working together.

If you'd like to learn what the WHO recommends—and what it means for you—I invite you to read my newest article.

Learn more at: www.nutritionandhealtheducator.com

💚 Every healthy meal, every walk, and every positive lifestyle choice is an investment in your future brain health.

07/15/2026

🍓 One of the most popular recipes on my website—and for good reason!

When it’s hot outside, I always find myself coming back to this Strawberry “Ice-Cream” Mousse. It’s light, fluffy, naturally sweet, and incredibly refreshing.

The secret ingredient? Aquafaba! It whips into a beautiful, airy mousse that’s paired with frozen strawberries for a dessert that tastes wonderfully indulgent while staying low in fat.

No baking, no ice cream maker, and just a handful of simple ingredients. It’s perfect for summer, whether you’re making it for yourself or sharing it with family and friends.

❤️ Full recipe at:
www.nutritionandhealtheducator.com

07/12/2026

❤️ Red Beet Burgers ❤️

These red beet burgers have a special place in my heart. They were inspired by a recipe my son discovered at a Veg Fest while studying at Charles University in Prague. After he made them, I couldn’t resist creating my own whole-food, plant-based version.

They’re made with simple ingredients like beets, chickpeas, oats, flaxseed, and sunflower seeds, yet they’re incredibly hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. Even people who think they don’t like beets are often pleasantly surprised!

As a mom, it makes me incredibly proud that both of my children have embraced a whole-food, plant-based vegan lifestyle and genuinely enjoy cooking healthy meals from scratch. Watching them live their values with compassion—for their health, the animals, and the planet—brings me so much joy.

I hope these burgers become a favorite in your home, too. 💚

06/30/2026

Omega-3 supplements have long been promoted for brain health, but the research has been less encouraging than many people realize. 🧠

Several randomized clinical trials have found little or no cognitive benefit from omega-3 supplementation in older adults and in people with Alzheimer’s disease. More recently, a 2026 observational study reported an association between omega-3 supplement use and faster cognitive decline, potentially related to reduced brain glucose metabolism.

After nearly two decades of clinical research, omega-3 supplements have not demonstrated consistent cognitive benefits for preventing cognitive decline or treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Brain health is influenced by many factors, including physical activity, sleep, cardiovascular health, social connection, and dietary patterns rich in whole plant foods. 🌿

Research includes:
• Freund-Levi et al., Arch Neurol 2006
• van de Rest et al., Neurology 2008
• Quinn et al., JAMA 2010
• Dangour et al., Am J Clin Nutr 2010
• Sydenham et al., Cochrane Review 2012
• Liao et al., J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2026

06/28/2026

Did you know that some people can have significant Alzheimer's-related changes in their brains and never develop dementia? 🧠

One of the most remarkable studies in Alzheimer's research, known as the Nun Study, followed 678 nuns for decades. Researchers found that some women remained mentally sharp despite having extensive amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in their brains.

This led to the concept of cognitive reserve — the brain's ability to compensate for damage and continue functioning normally.

Factors associated with greater cognitive reserve include:

Lifelong learning and education
Mental stimulation
Physical activity
Social engagement
Overall brain and cardiovascular health
The study reminds us that Alzheimer's disease is about more than plaques alone. Lifestyle, vascular health, and the brain's resilience may all influence whether symptoms appear and when.

I discuss the Nun Study and other fascinating Alzheimer's research in my latest article. Link in comments.

06/27/2026

We live in a world where food is often designed for profit, convenience, and hyper-palatability — not necessarily for long-term health. At the same time, many chronic diseases linked to lifestyle continue to rise.

Nutrition alone is not the answer to everything, but it plays a far greater role in health than many people realize. Real prevention starts long before prescriptions and procedures. 🌿

As Wendell Berry so aptly wrote in his essay The Joy of Sales Resistance:

“People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are healed by the health industry, which pays no attention to food.”

06/27/2026

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide and is the most common cause of dementia. While age and genetics play an important role, research suggests that lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connection may also influence long-term brain health.

In my latest article, I explore:

🧠 What happens in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease
🧠 Risk factors and stages of the disease
🧠 Current treatments and their limitations
🧠 The role of cognitive reserve
🧠 What research says about diet, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors that may support brain health

While there is currently no cure, growing evidence suggests that healthy lifestyle habits may help support cognitive function and overall brain health.

You can read the full article on my website. Link in the comments.

06/22/2026

Looking for a simple, satisfying plant-based meal?

This Cauliflower Chickpea Casserole combines tender cauliflower, hearty chickpeas, and brown rice in a creamy, savory Sriracha sauce. It’s easy to make, budget-friendly, packed with fiber, and perfect for meal prep.