| When we do our grocery shopping we may not be | | | | some of the age related decline we see in older |
| thinking in terms of brain food, but what we buy | | | | people. It also may play a role in the damage to brain |
| does play a part in the health of our minds. We | | | | cells that leads to Alzheimer's and dementia. |
| sometimes buy things in terms of the health of our | | | | Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals before they |
| hearts, but we may need to make a few changes if | | | | can damage cells. Good food for the brain must |
| we want our minds to go the distance as we age. | | | | include a healthy dose of antioxidants. |
| Americans still seem to persist in buying high fat | | | | So what do we do to get good brain food since we |
| foods even though we are aware of the risks to our | | | | know that most people don't buy what they should |
| arteries and heart. However, just as in the case of | | | | and when they do it is still short on nutrients? What |
| heart healthy foods, food for the brain requires a | | | | steps can we take to ensure the health of our brains |
| reduction in the "bad fat" content of our diets. | | | | as we age? |
| Clogged arteries not only impact the heart they hind | | | | First, we still need to do our part to cut fats and |
| the mind. | | | | increase the fruits and vegetables we eat. Regardless |
| The brain is the largest user of oxygen of all the | | | | of whether or not they have decreased nutrient |
| different organs so any change in blood flow to the | | | | content, eating more of them is still better for us |
| brain quickly effects its ability to function. Reducing | | | | then not having them at all. |
| fats is important in keeping those arteries free. In | | | | Second, finding good fruits and vegetables for brain |
| fact, researchers have noted that reduced blood | | | | food may require thinking outside the box a bit. |
| flow is a contributing factor in cognitive decline in | | | | Instead of buying from chain stores who get their |
| older people. Protecting your blood supply to the | | | | produce from commercial farms that use the kind of |
| brain is critical in keeping function longer as you age. | | | | heavy processing which strips nutrients, buy from |
| Brain food also needs to be high in vitamins and | | | | smaller local farms or farmers markets. They may be |
| minerals. While this is good for the body in general, | | | | a bit more expensive at times, but the quality could |
| the brain in particular is susceptible to deficiencies in | | | | be substantially better. |
| nutrients. Many of the chemicals in the brain, | | | | Third, it may be necessary to add supplements to |
| neurotransmitters, etc. depend on a steady supply of | | | | the diet that help fill in the gaps. There are many |
| vitamins, minerals and amino acids. | | | | good combination supplements out there that provide |
| Since these nutrients come largely through fruits and | | | | a range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This is |
| vegetables most people do not get all that they | | | | a fairly easy and effective way to make up for |
| need. The typical american eats nowhere near the | | | | some of the lack of nutrients we have in our food. |
| daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables | | | | Make sure you find a manufacturer that has a |
| that they need. The flip side of this problem is that | | | | reputation for quality and uses safe, pure ingredients. |
| even if they did, our modern processing of foods as | | | | While we may not always do our best to eat |
| well as some of the way we farm them tends to | | | | appropriate brain food, we can take steps to |
| strip away rather than help retain these nutrients. | | | | improve the level of nutrients we get daily. Since |
| Antioxidants are another item that is important for | | | | medicine is helping people live longer, it is more |
| the brain. Again, finding food for the brain that | | | | important than ever that we do what we can to help |
| provides the right levels of antioxidants is hard. It | | | | our minds keep up. Nobody wants to live to be 90 |
| comes back to the lack of fruits and vegetables in | | | | only to have their minds degrade to a miserable level. |
| our diet as well as the previously mentioned depletion | | | | We can do something about that by giving our brain |
| of these nutrients in the foods themselves. | | | | what it needs. All it takes is a few changes to what |
| Antioxidants are foundational in helping to protect the | | | | we buy and eat as well as a little commitment to |
| mind from aging. Scientists are learning that the | | | | stick with those changes. The end result will be |
| damage caused by free radicals is a big factor in | | | | worth it. |