Brain Diet

As always, a new year begins for most people with a list of resolutions. The fact that a long holiday season promotes an increase in eating (or over eating), a common resolution is to start a diet.  It is no secret that a healthy diet helps in controlling such things as weight, blood pressure and cholesterol but is now widely known to help in the function and overall health of the brain.

Maintaining a healthy brain will help to keep one alert and active. Findings show that eating certain foods actually protect against the symptoms of dementia. Following a low-calorie, high in antioxidants diet seems to work best in the fight against memory loss.  Vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach and fruits such as, grapes. oranges, and blueberries are a good source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant.  Antioxidants fight against oxygen free radicals that destroy brain cells. http://health.howstuffworks.com/delay-dementia2.htm These can also be found in some proteins, another important deterrent to memory loss.  Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and herring contain omega-3 fatty acids. These are an important part of neural cell membranes which allow information to pass to and from the membranes. Proteins also have an important role in one's diet.  Proteins contain amino acids that produce neurotransmitters.  These can be found in meat, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds and dried beans.http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/diet.html Meat should be lean, as to minimize fat intake.

Creating and following a healthy "brain diet' is a good resolution to start with. However, the brain, like the rest of the body, needs to be exercised. A simple and fun way to incorporate brain stimulation is to eat at least one meal a day with someone.http://www.fitbrains.com/blog/ Be they a family member, a friend, a neighbor... enjoying a meal and good conversation helps keep the brain alert and functioning.