We know that your brain is integral to everything you do – how you move and what you think about – so it may be a difficult concept to believe that you are not your brain, but you do have a brain.
It’s obvious that our bodies need to be nourished, rested and exercised – that’s easy to understand. So too our brain needs to be nourished, rested and exercised so that is in our service, rather than running amok! The brain makes a marvelous servant but a really appalling master.
In 1826, a very discerning person wrote,
“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are”,
which is quite literally true. The nutrients from our food influence every microscopic cell in our body, including of course, our brain.
Foods your brain will love and thank you for can be found in your local supermarket. At Quest, we encourage people to eat SLOW food –
- Seasonal
- Local
- Organic and
- Whole foods
The same applies for brain food so check the source of your food and keep the SLOW acronym in mind.
The majority of your food should be plant-based along with legumes, seeds and nuts.
FOODS YOUR BRAIN WILL LOVE – AND THANK YOU FOR!
- Healthy fats – such as coconut, hemp, Milk Thistle, cumin or olive oil, avocados.
- Blueberries – one of the top foods to include in season or buy frozen organic berries – research shows a strong link between blueberries and brain health.
- Greens – especially dark, leafy green vegetables – research shows people who eat these once or twice a day have less cognitive decline than those who don’t.
- Turmeric – a spice well used in India – there’s a body of evidence showing the positive impact of turmeric on prevention and treatment. Add good oils and black pepper for optimal absorption.
- Red grapes (organic) – high levels of resveratrol. Studies show resveratrol can enhance brain health and delay the onset of degenerative neuronal diseases.
- Coffee – evidence shows that coffee has a positive effect on blood vessels and circulation, particularly in your brain. One study showed 3-5 cups drunk during middle age resulted in 65% decreased risk of dementia. This amount may be far too much for some people. Research also shows even thinking about drinking coffee has the same effect!
- Omega3 Fatty Acids – for adequate levels of DHA to protect you from age related decline. DHA is found in fish oil and algae. Fish is also a source – however choose young fish to avoid mercury and heavy metal contamination.
- Seeds and nuts – flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and hemp are good sources of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid).
In this blog I’ve talked about nutrition and the foods your brain loves! In our next blog I’ll talk about how best to rest the brain because when the brain is at rest, it begins to cleanse and repair itself.
