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19 November 2010

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Some Foods

Increase Brain Function

 

Fruits, vegetables, and small portions

are key to improving brainpower

 

The good news is that brainpower can be raised by eating the right foods; the bad news is many of those foods are not the most popular ones.

 

The brain is a bit of an energy hog; although accounting for only two percent of body weight it consumes 20% of the body’s calorie intake. There are about 10 billion nerve cells in the brain and they all need the proper nutrients to function properly – none of them seem to thrive on double chocolate, cream-filled doughnuts.

 

Such things as fish, liver, soy products, wheat germ, some berries, broccoli, and cauliflower make really good brain food.

 

Notice the absence of hot dogs, fries, pop, pizza, chicken wings, and candy.

 

Chelle

 

Foods to Boost Brain Activity

On the BBC’s Wellbeing web pages there is a listing of foods that are good for the brain:

• Wholegrains
• Oily fish (wild salmon, sardines, yellowfin tuna)
• Blueberries
• Tomatoes
• Blackcurrants
• Pumpkin seeds
• Broccoli
• Sage

 

Dietician Michèle Turcotte at The Diet Channel makes the case for eggs, spinach, cranberries, sweet potatoes, kidney beans, raisin bran, lamb loin, and wheat germ.

 

Again, notice what’s missing – cheeseburgers, potato chips, cookies, and cake.

 

When to Eat is also Important  

Mother always says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Mother is right. The brain needs a kick-start in the morning, and not with sugar-coated, cream-loaded pastries. Some carbohydrates are good, along with a small amount of protein.

 

At the website HealthMad Nobert Soloria Bermosa advises that people should “Avoid eating sausage, bacon, and eggs because they are rich in fat and cholesterol. They are slow to digest and tend to direct the flow of blood away from the brain and reduce mental alertness.”

 

Other meals need to be small and balanced, and between-meal snacks are important. While the brain needs a lot of feeding, it seems it’s also a picky eater, and its favourite food is glucose. Grazing on fruits, veggies, unsalted nuts, and orange juice will keep the glucose levels up.

 

Brainpower Supplements

The BBC Wellbeing website says that deficiencies in the diet can be made up by using supplements. One of these is called Eye-Q and is a blend of fish oil and evening primrose oil.

 

“A study by Durham County Council and Mansfield College, Oxford,” says the BBC “concluded that 40% of the children sampled improved both their reading skills and attention spans when taking the supplements.”

 

The best advice is to eat a little and often from a balanced range of foods. Plenty of fruit and vegetables and keep away from the junk food.

 

Sources

“Food For Thought: 10 Foods To Increase Your Brain Function.” Michèle Turcotte, Diet Channel, October 11, 2006.

“11 Steps to a Better Brain.” Kate Douglas et al, New Scientist, May 28, 2005.

 

© Canada and the World, June 2010

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Alvimann

“...kids breakfasting on fizzy drinks and sugary snacks performed at the level of an average 70-year-old in tests of memory and attention…Beans on toast (whole grain) is a far better combination…Toast alone boosted children’s scores on a variety of cognitive tests…the breakfast with the high-protein beans worked best.”

NewScientist, May 2005

 

 

“Research from Tufts University in the United States and published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that blueberry extract can improve short term memory loss. [It’s] widely available, so there's no excuse!”

British Broadcasting Corporation