Food For Thought – Eat Well, Think Well!

Food For Thought – Eat Well, Think Well!

From your breakfast to your evening meal, everything that you eat affects your brain in different ways. There have been a number of studies on energy consumption relating to the foods we consume, however, many people still fail to understand how the nutrients we digest affect the way our brain performs. In some cases, there are certain foods that can make you smarter. As soon as you consume food, your stomach breaks it down into energy that is sent around the body, with the brain receiving the biggest portion. Although the brain counts for only 2 percent of your total body weight, it needs around 20 percent of the distributed energy to continue performing.

As energy is taken to the brain through blood vessels, dieting is a great way to keep those vessels clear and healthy. The key to a healthy brain is being able to maintain a healthy circulation within your body, and it can also reduce the chances or depression, dementia, and brain disorders – low cholesterol eating benefits many parts of the body. But which foods have the ability to really kick-start our intelligence when their nutrients reach our brain? Here are the top foods necessary, if you want to get the best out of your body.

Fish, Omega 3 and Fatty Acids

The brain needs sugar and fat in order to perform at its very best, and given how often we’re warned away from these substances, that may sound surprising. As the brain is the body’s second-highest deposit of fat (after fatty tissue), and it is the only organ that draws most of its energy from glucose, it’s not just any standard sugar and fat that it needs to be efficient.

It’s a proven fact that junk foods, and the trans and saturated fats that they contain, harden brain cells, and even have the ability to decrease cognitive ability. Furthermore, rats and mice that were exposed to equivalent junk food lost their ability to navigate around mazes, as well as losing their sense of direction.

Omega 3 fatty acids promote brain cell growth however, and they can be found in nuts, kiwi fruit, and many varieties of fish. In elderly people alone, one study confirmed slow cognitive decline when a selection of patients ate fish at least once a week. Fish has also been shown to improve memory as well as reducing schizophrenia and dyslexia. If you want to learn more about the effects of food on the brain, try visiting websites related to health and performance.

Glucose and Antioxidants

In order for the brain to successfully perform, it needs an uninterrupted intake of glucose, meaning no skipped meals. Most fruit and vegetables provide a steady release of glucose, however, you’re going to have to watch your food intake, as too many calories produce unstable molecules called free radicals. These molecules destroy brain cells, and consuming antioxidants is a great way to defend against such health consequences.

Grape juice or vegetable juice are great sources of antioxidants, and they have the same positive effect on your body as a solid alternative (fruit and vegetables). Green tea is also another great way to cleanse your body. Take this valuable information as food for thought, and remember that in order to keep your heightened brain activity ticking over, you have to keep it fuelled with the right nutrients.