Everyone has heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” This remarkably simplesaying means more and more each day as we gain a greater understanding about how foods affect us.
- The foodyou put into your bodyinfluencesyour physical appearance, energy levels, bodily processes and how well your brain functions.
Your brain is a system of chemical connections firing off at each other so fast that it is almost impossible to fathom. Well, the food you eat affects the chemical makeup of your brain,altering how it acts and works.
Feelings and emotions also affect your brain.Feelings areinitiated in the brain, and, depending on the emotion, they can be altered by the brain chemistry. For example, some people do not produce adequate amount of certain chemicalsin their brain, which radically changes their behavior patterns.
There are things you can do to regulate this chemical reaction daily, and it’s simpler than you may think!Eating certain foods can specifically affect different functions of the body, the chemicals in your brain, and your emotions.
Here are some healthy foods you can eat to help optimize both your body and mind:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids.Eating foods high in Omega-3shas a great deal of health benefits,includingimproving your brain’s development and functions.The Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is an important polyunsaturated fat found in the brain.
- Fish is a great source of Omega-3 Fatty acids, including DHA.
- Choline. Choline is a chemical building block of every cell in your body. Choline has also been shown to help with retaining information in your memory.
- Egg yolks have a high concentration of choline in them.
- Antioxidants.The health benefits of antioxidantsis in fighting diseases, but did you know a cup of hot cocoa has a higher concentration of antioxidants in it than either red wine or green tea? Make sure it’s dark chocolate.
- Serve a cup of rich dark hot cocoa after dinner health and dessert
- Green Tea. Have a glass of green tea every day to help keep the cognitive functions of your brain in tiptop shape.Studies have shown 70% of people who drank green tea showed an improvement in the functions of the brain.
- Cranberry Juice.This beverage is not only good for your body, specifically, kidney and urinary functions, but it can also help prevent a stroke.Cranberry juice has also been shown to help reduce brain cell damage after a stroke.
Eating a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein, and some fat is the best way to nourish both the body and mind.Our bodies are extremely complicated machines requiring many different things to function properly, and what we eat determines how it functions.
By taking simple steps to optimize your nutrition, you will also optimize your mind and body. Start making healthy, nutritious food choices today and enjoy looking, feeling, and thinking better.
Yvette McQueen MD
MedQueen Health, CEO
A Global Traveling Physician
Go to medqueenwellness.com to grab your Wellness 101 Guide
