Exercise/fuel the Brain, not just the rest of the body!

byRoad2health

250 followers

12 years ago

Everyone always strives to lose weight, get in shape for whatever reason, but mostly all forget one muscle that is just as critical.....your brain. To fucntion just as well as the rest of your body your brain needs the right nutrients and exercises (crossword puzzles, sudoku, reading, Meditation) So get out there and read a book that you have been putting off, do the training you need to do for whatever business or schooling you are doing, and strengthen the brain!!

BRAIN FOOD

"One cannot think well, love well or sleep well if one has not dined well."

Virginia Woolfe

The foods you eat directly affects the performance of your brain. It has been proven that by eating the right food, you can boost your IQ, improve your mood, be more emotionally stable, sharpen your memory and keep your mind young.

If you give your brain the right nutrients, you will be able to think quicker, have a better memory, be better coordinated and balanced and have improved concentration.

The three key brain foods to boost your brainpower and keep your brain healthy and your mental processes operating effectively are nutritious food, water and oxygen:

Brain Foods

Thinking is a biochemical process. For brain cells to communicate effectively with each other to create neural pathways, they require chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the 'messengers' carrying messages from neuron to neuron.

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids found in protein foods e.g., meat, fish and cheese.

Vitamins and minerals are needed to convert ordinary amino acids into these powerful neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are found in the food we eat, hence why some foods are called 'brain foods'.

The three key neurotransmitters are:

1. Acetylcholine (ACh). This neurotransmitter excites other neurons and may be responsible for memory.

It is involved with voluntary movement of muscles, behavioural inhibition, drinking and memory.

People with Alzheimer's memory loss may have less ACh or ACh that is blocked.

Acetylcholine rich foods include: egg yolks, peanuts, wheat germ, liver, meat, fish, milk, cheese and vegetables (especially broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower)

2. Dopamine generally excites and is involved in movement, attention and learning but is also inhibitory.

It is involved with voluntary movement, emotional arousal.

Schizophrenia is associated with excess dopamine.

People with Parkinson's disease may have less or damaged dopamine causing tremors, loss of balance etc. The drug "L-Dopa" may be given to increase the level of dopamine.

Dopamine rich foods include all proteins (meat, milk products, fish, beans, nuts, soy products). 3-4ounces of protein will help you to feel energized, more alert and more assertive.

3. Serotonin (or 5-HT) usually inhibits and is involved in arousal and sleep, mood, appetite and sensitivity. However, it is also excitatory and is part of the brain's reward system producing feelings of pleasure.

People who suffer from clinical depression may have too little serotonin active in synapses so they may benefit from taking a Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitor(SSRI) e.g., Prozac to extend the serotonin activity.

Serotonin rich foods are carbohydrate based e.g., pasta, starchy vegetables, potatoes, cereals, breads.

Brain Foods ~ Protein

Protein is found in meat, fish, milk and cheese. Protein provides the building blocks for most of the body's tissues, nerves, internal organs (including brain and heart). Proteins are used to make neurotransmitters and are essential to improve mental performance.

Brain Foods ~ Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates enhance the absorption of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin in the brain. Within about thirty minutes of eating a carbohydrate meal,, you will feel more calm and relaxed. The effects will last several hours.

Grains, fruits and vegetables are key sources of carbohydrates.

Digestion causes the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (sugar) which is the brains primary source of energy. If your glucose levels fluctuate too much, you may experience mental confusion, dizziness and if severe, convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Brain Foods ~ Fat

The brain is more than 60% fat. This is because the brain cells are covered by the myelin sheath which is composed of approximately 75% fat. Fats also play a crucial role as messengers. They regulate key aspects of the immune system, blood circulation, inflammation, memory and mood.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to the optimum performance of your brain. Lack of omega-3 fats in your diet can lead to depression, poor memory, low IQ, learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADD and many more mental disorders.

To ensure that your diet is rich in omega-3 fats, ensure that you eat plenty of oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, herring, mackerel and anchovies.

Brain Foods ~ Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential for the growth and functioning of the brain.

The 'B' complex vitamins are particularly important for the brain and play a vital role in producing energy. Vitamins A, C and E are powerful antioxidants and promote and preserve memory in the elderly.

Minerals are also critical to mental functioning and performance. Magnesium and manganese are needed for brain energy. Sodium, potassium and calcium are important in the thinking process and they facilitate the transmission of messages.