There is more food on the planet than anyone can name – people may think they know a lot about food, but most of what they know comes only from the region in which they live. Unless a person has the opportunity to travel around the world and learn about the various foods, it’s actually pretty limiting. When looking at the different kinds of Brain Food around the world, there are plenty of choices that provide great benefits to different parts of the brain.
One thing people always hear is to stay away from fats. However, there are some fatty acids that are necessary for the gray matter found between the ears and that are the Omega-3 fatty acids. These beneficial fatty acids, particularly those found in salmon, help in the ability to focus better, solve problems, retain new information, and they are excellent for improving memory. There are even additional benefits that provide emotional stability and they help keep the heart healthy.
So exactly why do these fatty acids help the brain? The brain is made up of neurons which are the messengers in the brain and the membranes that surround these neuron cells consist of the “good fat” that is found in the Omega-3 fatty acids. For these neuron’s membranes to function correctly they have to be supple enough so that other molecules can move through them and these fatty acids are the elements that help keep these membranes pliable.
Another food that is great for the brain because it help protest against senility is choline, which is one of the important building blocks of each cell. A surprising food that contains the greatest amount of natural choline is egg yolks. In addition to the choline, egg yolks also contain folic acid which is crucial for moving the chemical messages around the neurotransmitters in the brain. The combination of choline and folate helps in one additional way to remove the most destructive homocysteins that are the hazardous amino acids that cause inflammation in the brain.
Most all women would know that it’s critical to get a significant amount of folic acid daily during pregnancy for the baby to have a healthy development; however, research has discovered that cognitive and learning functions in elderly people is also enhanced when folic acid is consumed on a daily basis. Folic acid also seems to have a beneficial effect in preventing rising homocysteins levels that are not only presenting risk factors for strokes, but it also seems to have favorable benefits in helping Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients postpone some of the symptoms of the diseases. More study is needed, but so far it looks extremely promising. Just remember balance in everyone, this is one case that too much is not necessarily a good thing.
From the near east to the Far East, curry has been a favorite spice to cook with for thousands of years. Now another benefit, aside from the amazing flavor it adds to food, scientists have found that the chemicals in curry seems to increase the immune system’s ability to clear the amyloid-beta from the connective tissues in the brain. The amyloid-beta is the substance that basically acts like the glue to build up the plaque in the brain, which seems to be so prevalent in Alzheimer’s patients. Scientists have found that in parts of the world where curry is abundantly consumed, there is little to no occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Another great brain food, which most people will be thrilled to hear about, is chocolate. Yes, many people want to say they had their “vegetable” today because they had some chocolate, since it comes from the cocoa “bean”, and that’s a great excuse! Besides chocolate just tastes so good, now there’s an even better excuse for having chocolate because it is high in antioxidants which are at the top of the list in nutrients to fight diseases. Antioxidants are the best defense against free radicals that roam around in the body and are so destructive, not only to the brain but other organs and the antioxidants provided in chocolate has shown some great results in slowing the effects of Alzheimer’s.
There are so many Brain Foods that provide some exceptional benefits for the brain, and a good healthy mix of them on a daily basis is just what the doctor ordered. It’d be great to say “Chocolate each day keeps the doctor away!”
