YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!

Your Brain is Affected by the following:

The types of food you put into your body

The amount of water you do or do not drink

The amount of sleep you obtain The amount of stress you are

under Whether or not you exercise

The main four “groups” of nutrients needed by your brain

First: Complex Carbohydrates

Second: Omega-3 Third: Vitamin B Fourth: Antioxidants

“Food” for your Brain

Your brain cells need 2x the amount of energy as any other cell in your body.

A human’s best source of energy is complex carbohydrates.

http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html#toomuch

Simple rule of thumb: Complex carbohydrates are found in “natural” foods (analogy = time-release capsules of glucose) Whereas, simple carbohydrates are found in processed foods (analogy = syringe injection of glucose).The neurons in our brain cannot store glucose as do most other cells, so it is important to keep a steady supply in your bloodstream versus surges. It is SO MUCH BETTER!

Complex vs. Simple Carbohydrates

Making better choices

Eat high-fiber foods, such as a bran muffin instead of the morning donut.

Diet Can Affect Your Life

Research has shown emotional, mental and psychiatric disorders like depression and bipolar disorder may be partly because of dietary deficiencies rather than genetic predispositions. The same is true of people who struggle with memory loss, have trouble learning new tasks, have Alzheimer’s disease or simply suffer from a lot of blue moods. The dietary deficiency that tends to frequently show up in these patients is a lack of omega 3.

Omega 3, continued

Helps improve communication between the brain cells

Important to the development and proper maintenance of the brain

Found in the following:

Fish

Certain seeds and nuts Olive and soybean oil Raspberries

Website– Omega-3 Fatty Acids

http://www.naturalnews.com/016353.html

Should you take vitamins?

You can get all the vitamins you need from the foods you eat. If you don’t eat a well balanced diet though, it is recommended that you take a multi-vitamin.

Supplements may be the answer.

The Third – B Vitamins

B vitamins help manufacture and release chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The nervous system relies on neurotransmitters to communicate messages within the brain, such as those that regulate mood, hunger, and sleep.

Foods Containing B vitamins

4 of the 8 B Vitamins

B1also known as thiamin, helps fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy.

B3 also called niacin, is important for converting calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates into energy

B6 (pyridoxine) is required for the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine and for myelin formation

B12 also called cobalamin, helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells

Antioxidants - #4

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals.  

Antioxidant HUMOR

Vitamin A

Found in carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)

Vitamin E

Found in nuts and seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil.

Vitamin C

Found in citrus fruits like oranges and limes, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, and tomatoes.

More info on those antioxidants

Stress hormones, diets which include trans fats, and other toxins in our environment add to the load of free radicals. In spite of the heavy hits our brain cells take from free radicals hour by hour, antioxidants can repair 99% plus of this damage.

How much water?

Water must be taken into your body in its pure, natural state – not in the form of koolaide, pop, coffee, etc.

Optimally drink half your body weight in ounces daily.

Water

In a dehydrated cell, the metabolism, is greatly impaired.

From a cellular point of view, the transmission of nutrients through the cell membrane is conducted by water.

This means POOR BRAIN FUNCTION if you don’t have enough water in your system.

Working along with antioxidants

Effictive hydration removes free radicals faster than most any other therapy. A fully hydrated body can reduce your need for antioxidant supplements.

WATER and NERVE TRANSMISSION

Nerve transmission is heavily dependent upon water. Small waterways, or micro-streams run along the full length of your nerves. These streams float the neurotransmitters along microtubules to the nerve endings.

Water Water actually holds the cells of

your body together. Water keeps the cell membrane together by forming hydronium ions which makes the water “sticky” and helps bond your cells together.

So, time for you to take charge of YOU!

Do you know what the USDA does and does not consider junk food

for schools?

Do you eat right?

Check out this website and enter your data

http://www.mypyramid.gov Go to MyPyramid Plan and enter

your personal data Go to MyPyramid Tracker and register

and enter daily physical activity and food/drink intake to evaluate your daily eating.

Suggestion: Use your name to register and school password so that you do not forget it!

After entering your data go to - Analyze your results.

Then go to: Calculate MyPyramid Stats and go to: Calculate Nutrient Intakes from Foods

Bibliography

http://ezinearticles.com/?Waters-Powerful-Role-in-Healthy-Brain-Function--&id=158499

http://ezinearticles.com/?Waters-Powerful-Role-in-Healthy-Brain-Function--&id=158499

http://www.ehow.com/how_2112552_use-antioxidants-brain-health.html#ixzz0ve66ezjy