We know that a poor diet can lead to countless health issues - cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. But it can also impact the brain (including memory and mood) and increase the risk of brain or neurodegenerative diseases. Does your diet starve your brain? If your diet includes brain-fogging foods, it's time to stop the harmful exposure. You are what you eat and the brain is no exception.

A brain-boosting diet is not a life of deprivation. We can readily find plenty of ingredients and foods that can replace those harmful, toxic, and often factory-made foods that fog up and slow down the brain. Did you know that some foods even promote the creation of new brain cells? Eating habits will either support the brain or rob it. So let’s see how you can best take care of your brain!

Here are some tips:

1. Did you know that DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain? Foods that help to keep high levels of DHA and EPA in your blood include salmon, Bluefin tuna, herring, sardines, fish oil, seaweed, or microalgae supplements. Other non-fish sources are leafy greens, chia, flax or hemp seeds, and walnuts. Aim for up to three fish or seafood meals each week.
2. Stable blood sugar levels will either make or break the brain! Choose your carbohydrates wisely! Instead of simple, sugary, or refined carbs that sap your brain of energy, choose complex carbohydrates such as beans, lentils, root veggies, and whole grains to help keep your blood sugar metabolism stable.
3. Are you going to miss all that sugar? Not if you find a delicious way to replace it as well as any excess salt. Many spices, herbs, teas, and even dark chocolate are rich with potent antioxidants that protect the brain from oxidation and keep inflammation under control. Cinnamon, turmeric, and hot peppers can help keep cholesterol and insulin levels down. Experiment with these spices and use pure stevia as a sweetener.
4. Make room in your diet for fermented foods - fermented soy, sauerkraut, pickles, or Greek yogurt - to keep the gut-brain connection running smoothly.
5. Did you know that there are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in your brain? A diet rich in green-leafy veggies and berries encourages healthy blood flow to the brain and keeps it sharp.

Talk to our staff today to find out what our office offers to support brain health!

References

1. Diabetes Care. 2003;26(12):3215-3218.
2. Biol Trace Elem Res. 1990;24(3):183-188.
3. Br J Nutr. 2006;96(2):239-242.