Archive for category Brain Health
How Important is Omega-3 For Optimum Brain Health?
Posted by admin in Brain Health on June 18, 2011
Aside from benefiting the heart, Omega-3 is beneficial for a person’s optimum brain health. Long-term diet and food choices not only affect the way we look and feel but also the way we think.
Studies have linked emotional, mental, and psychiatric disorders to dietary deficiencies more than genetics.
In fact, people with Alzheimer’s disease, who struggle with memory loss, or who have difficulty in learning new tasks are shown to lack Omega-3 fatty acids. Deficiencies of Omega-3 in adults have been also linked to various disorders affecting mental and emotional state.
Low levels of DHA are linked to bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, autism, schizophrenia, general learning difficulties, and even bad mood.
Known as the docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, Omega-3 fatty acid is an important component for optimum brain health. DHA is found in high concentration in the brain. It plays an important function in the transmission of brain signals and how our cell membranes communicate. Maintaining cell membranes is an important job of the Omega-3 fatty acids for if a cell membrane breaks down, normal flow of communication between cells is interrupted.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are not produced in the body and should therefore be sourced from our diet. Valuable sources of these acids include fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood like algae and krill, some plants, and nut oils. Read the rest of this entry »
Four Brain Health Tips That Will Give You The Edge
Posted by admin in Brain Health on June 18, 2011
How can you keep your mind sharp as you age? Are there things you could be doing today that will help you thing better and live a healthier life overall? Absolutely. Here are four brain health tips to get you functioning at your peak.
1: Try Something New Every Day
Our brains were meant to be exercised, and continuously trying new challenges doesn’t wear them out – by contrast, it actually stretches them out and keeps them limber, much in the same way keeping your muscles working keeps them from stiffening up.
Challenges can be small, such as learning a new word every day, or twisting, like trying to eat with the other hand, or a particularly complicated jigsaw puzzle.
2: Eat Deep-Colored Foods
As a general rule, the more vivid the color of a fruit or vegetable, the more antioxidant qualities it has. Brain health depends on keeping free radical damage from becoming permanent. Free radicals occur when cells are damaged by lack of proper nutrients.
It’s important to provide foods that fight this damage to your mind. Get more raspberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries and strawberries in your diet today. Read the rest of this entry »