How To Save With Cards – Forbes Advisor

It’s an old saying that you are what you eat. A Harvard study now backs that up, showing that those who embrace a Mediterranean diet may ward off their genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Before you hit the grocery store shelves, review your credit card strategy to ensure you’re earning the most back on your spending while experimenting with a new diet.

The Proof’s Not in the Pudding

A mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, red meat (consumed in small amounts), cheese, fish and poultry (in moderate doses), and olive oil.

A study published by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard found that people with the highest genetic risk of Alzheimer’s were able to slow their cognitive decline—and experienced a greater reduction in dementia risk than those with lower genetic risk—by sticking to a clean diet.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s affected an estimated 6.7 million older Americans in 2023. That number is expected to double by 2060. The disease is highly heritable, with genetics accounting for up to 80% of the risk.

The researchers analyzed data from 4,215 women (average age 57 at baseline) from 1989 to 2023, and cross-analyzed their findings with similar data from 1,490 men from 1993 to 2023. The cohort consisted of well-educated participants of European descent. Researchers acknowledged the need for more research involving diverse populations.

They found that participants who ate a Mediterranean diet developed protective effects against the gene apolipoprotein E, or APOE, which is one of the strongest genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s. Those who carry one variant of APOE4 have a three- to fourfold higher risk of developing the disease, while those with two copies of the APOE4 variant face a 12-fold increased risk compared to those without it.

The diet proved most effective in the high-risk group with two copies of the APOE4 gene variant, suggesting that clean eating may help wean off genetic risk.

“These findings suggest that dietary strategies, specifically the Mediterranean diet, could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and stave off dementia by broadly influencing key metabolic pathways,” Yuxi Liu, a study author, research fellow in the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute, told “The Harvard Gazette.”

“This recommendation applies broadly, but it may be even more important for individuals at a higher genetic risk, such as those carrying two copies of the APOE4 genetic variant.”

Low Bills, Low Risk

Restructuring your diet doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Credit cards with grocery and dining benefits can help you earn points and cash back, cutting down on long-term costs. A clean bill of health, medically and financially, is a marathon, not a race.

Here are some of our favorite credit cards for groceries and dining:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Be wary that the card comes with an annual fee of $95, but your spending can quickly offset that with its welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. After earning the bonus, take some time to budget and plan your meals to stretch every dollar further. 
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: The Savor is a reliable pick for dining and groceries, offering 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. With a $0 annual fee, it’s a great option for beginners hoping to earn rewards fast without paying to hold the card. 
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: The Blue Cash Preferred is a superstar when it comes to grocery rewards, earning a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit purchases (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout. Best of all, new cardholders can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers requested within the first 60 days of account opening, followed by a variable APR of 20.24% to 29.24%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies (Terms apply, see rates & fees).