What Are You Feeding Your Brain?
Yes I know we all think - all the time - at least I hope so. This is to say that our brains are engaged in some mental activity or other 24/7.
Even when you are in deep meditation and supposedly ‘blanking your mind’, your brain is still active. And of course some people are more efficient about how they think, what they think and the outcome of their thinking. Others, oh well, I shudder to say they just ramble; they have no clarity of thought. What sets good thinkers from their less fortunate brethren? Believe me it has nothing to do with luck or witchcraft. Genes may play a role, but the bottom line is good nutrition from birth - even before we’re born - to now.
The question is, are you feeding brain optimum nutrition for optimum output? Or are you just mindlessly shoving down empty and dangerous junk. The equation is very simple; garbage in garbage out. When you eat better, you feel better, perform better, and generally, have a positive attitude to life. You become Mr. or Ms. Sunshine! In short, eating well makes you a more efficient, happy individual who is less gloomy, angry, and lives life to the full. Know anyone like that? Great and I am sure you want to belong to that A list.
So does food really matter to brain power? Yes it does and in a big way. The old cliche that ‘we are what we eat’ is so true and will remain true for the rest of eternity. Generally, all nutrients are important for the brain, but scientists agree that the most crucial include vitamins A, D, E, B1, B2, B3, niacin, folate, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and the long chain fatty acids found in olive oil, fish, and nuts. See good fats are the key for brain power as I have already previously mentioned.
These nutrients are responsible for the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that send messages to and across the nerve endings of the brain and the rest of our body. Therefore, the logic is fairly simple; no nutrition, no neurotransmitter, and therefore, NO brain function. Is it any wonder that when you are hungry or under a lot of stress and cannot eat probably, your brain shuts down and you experience that ever irritating mental block? Next time this happens to you just reach for a handful of nuts and a fruit or two. You will be up and running in no time. If for any reason daily requirements of these important nutrients cannot be met through a regular diet, it’s advisable to take a quality supplement to safeguard against nutritional deficiencies, especially for a pregnant woman. Please always ask a nutritionist, dietician or pharmacist on which supplements are best. The rule of thumb, however, is to aim for more organic ones that are easily absorbed and are bio-available. Also remember that since brain development begins in the womb, expecting women should eat well. For small babies and children, breastmilk is an excellent source, otherwise a fortified food is recommended.
A simple guideline for attaining these brain nutrients is to eat a balanced diet with a wide variety of foods. But importantly, if you aim for vegetables, fruits, nuts, and dairy products you can be sure that you are covered and your brain will be on target.
Antioxidants are another important set of nutrients to boost you. Antioxidants are a group of substances that protect tissues, cells, and important compounds such as proteins and the DNA (the imprint that defines who you are and what you do basically), against the destructive power of oxygen and its relatives. Berries such as strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, mulberry, and blackberry contain some powerful antioxidants. These include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene (the red, yellow and/or red substances that give carrots, peppers, tomatoes, mangoes, pumpkin and berries etc. their revered colours), as well as selenium and manganese.
Other antioxidants under much scientific study include Coenzyme Q10, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols and glutathione. You need these for your brain too.
Next time your boss, wife, husband, friend or teenager is grouchy and flies off the handle for no apparent reason, stay calm; take in a deep breath, remain wise, and gently provide your piece of good advice pointing them in the optimum nutrition path.
Better still, always keep some fruit, nuts, berries and some yoghurt handy and offer them. Save a mood, save a life, and preserve good relations, send nutrition to the rescue for brain power! Cheers.
Tags: b3, brain power, brethren, chain fatty acids, cliche, deep meditation, eternity, good fats, good nutrition, long chain fatty acids, nerve endings, Nutrients, oil fish, olive oil, optimum nutrition, optimum output, positive attitude, thinkers, vitamin b12, witchcraft
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