Foods to Help Mental Clarity

What do we feed our most complex organ? Everything! Well, almost        everything. A brain-healthy diet consists of foods that increase blood flow, are low in cholesterol and high in antioxidants. Such a mix not only helps the brain but also slows the aging process, helps prevent diseases like diabetes and benefits the heart.

Providing good nutrition for our brain is a must. As we move towards our golden years, we realize that our minds just do not work the way they used to. Progressive aging of our brain can trigger symptoms of dementia, and even lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 4.5 million Americans suffer from this disease.

Free radicals have been identified as a major cause of cognitive decline associated with aging. Our brains and bodies are bombarded daily with free radicals from polluted air, unhealthy food and poor lifestyles. They can cause low-grade inflammation, which damages normal cell structure and function. Thankfully, through an increase in research, we now know the important role of good nutrition for brain health. So, why not help slow down the aging of our brain by consuming the right “brain foods?” We can then cruise through our golden years more clearly and keenly.

The cardiovascular system plays a major role in nourishing the whole body including the brain. In order to provide our brain with the proper nutrients, the blood must flow smoothly through vessels clear of obstructions like plaque build-up.

Salmon

Our brain consists of 60% fat. Cold water fish such as salmon are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce inflammation, thus promoting good circulation, which in turn supports healthy nerve cell activity in the brain.

Walnuts

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods and herbs that resemble certain body parts are used to benefit those parts. So, it is not surprising that the walnut, which resembles a brain, is packed with Vitamin E and antioxidants. Walnuts are the only nuts that contain a significant amount of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Blueberries

Foods that are small and compact in size tend to carry a lot of Chi—or life energy. So, the smaller the food, the more abundant the Chi. It is no wonder then, that out of fifty common fruits and vegetables, blueberries have the highest antioxidant properties. The phytonutrient-rich anthocyanidins found in the blue-red pigments of blueberries protect the brain by neutralizing free radical damage.

For further questions or concerns regarding nutrition for a healthier mind and body, ask the receptionist about our nutritional counseling services.