I wanted to share some notes I took from a lecture I attended by Dr Neal Barnard.
Did you know there really is such a thing as Brain Foods? There have been several studies done to show us what foods help and what foods can hurt the function of our brains! Alzheimer's is becoming more prevalent every year. There was a study called the Chicago Health and Aging Project where they followed 1341 adults around 50 years of age. They followed them for 21 years and found that the higher intake of trans fats (increased cholesterol) the higher risk for Alzheimer's! The toxins from the foods we eat actually cause what is called Amyloid plaques they disrupts the connections in the brain. The study also showed the difference in risk based on the daily intake of saturated fats, the higher saturated fats = higher risks for Alzheimer's.
So what is the solution if you want to have a healthy brain?
No bad fats- avoid processed food (trans fats) and cholesterol from animal products
Knock out free radicals- eat foods full of antioxidants to help minimize damage from free radicals
exercise your brain- read, do math puzzles, take an online class, keep you brain working, challenge it with memorization games etc.
What foods can you eat to give you that extra boost of brain POWER?
BROCCOLI!! (leafy greens, walnuts, flax and chia seeds are just a few)
This super food is great source of, get this, omega 3 fats! (about 8%) It is also a powerful antioxidant.
Just some fun and eye opening insight on the brain. I know there are a lot of people who can look at their family and see their risk for Alzheimer's because of genetics, but I here to shout from the roof tops, GENES ARE NOT OUR FATE, WE HAVE A CHOICE!! Nutrition plays a huge role in how we feel and what diseases can and will affect our bodies. We can do our part by feeling and caring for them the best we know how today. We can always improve, keep learning and exercising that brain!
Love and Broccoli