| Can your diet really affect brain health and | | | | tested higher for anti-oxidants than any other |
| cognitive functions? It sure can. Research has | | | | berry tested, but be careful. Acai must be |
| shown that the brain likes certain foods a lot | | | | processed correctly in order to preserve its |
| more than others and that brain function can | | | | super-food benefits. You can't just buy a pill and |
| actually be improved with diets that are high in | | | | expect that to do the trick. Acai is beginning to be |
| certain foods. | | | | grown and processed domestically, so the quality |
| Improved brain performance is linked to chemical | | | | should improve in the coming years. |
| receptors in the brain called neurotransmitters. | | | | Blueberries - Blueberries have been researched |
| These help to create pathways along which brain | | | | extensively in recent years and the results are all |
| cells communicate. Replenishment of | | | | in agreement that this little berry packs a potent |
| neurotransmitters like ACh, Dopamine and | | | | dose of antioxidants and other beneficial |
| Serotonin requires a diet that includes clean quality | | | | components. Their availability makes them a much |
| protein and fats in foods like lean meats and | | | | more realistic choice for most of us too. |
| especially fish, eggs and vegetables. | | | | Chocolate! Yes, I said chocolate. Not a Snickers |
| Wild Salmon - Fish has long been known to be a | | | | Bar now. The cacao bean when minimally |
| great brain food choice. Wild salmon is probably | | | | processed contains antioxidants, flavonoids, |
| the best choice of all because it is one of the | | | | catechins and many other good things beneficial |
| best sources of Essential Fatty Acids, particularly | | | | for brain, skin and cardiovascular health. Most |
| Omega-3 without the contamination found in | | | | chocolate bars contain very low levels of over |
| many species of deep sea fish. Some farm raised | | | | processed cacao. Look for 100% organic |
| salmon is beneficial depending on the source but | | | | non-alkalized cocoa powder that has been |
| you really need to be careful. Other good seafood | | | | minimally processed, or go for high cacao |
| choices are sardines and smelts, both small fish | | | | percentage (85% or more) dark chocolate bars. |
| with small livers that limit the amounts of mercury | | | | Coffee - Like chocolate, coffee is another of our |
| they can store. | | | | favorite indulgences that just happens to be good |
| Sea Vegetables - The benefits from the sea don't | | | | for us. Coffee is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, |
| stop there. Sea vegetables are extremely healthy | | | | vitamins and minerals. Fresh-ground gently roasted |
| food for the brain and the body. Marine algae, | | | | coffee beans have numerous brain and body |
| seaweed, nuri, kombu and kelp aren't exactly | | | | health benefits. Regular coffee consumption has |
| items you are used to seeing in your local | | | | been shown to actually reduce the risk of mental |
| supermarket, but these super foods are packed | | | | decline. Grind your own beans from a quality roast |
| with high concentrations of saltwater minerals and | | | | house into a fine powder and brew it as espresso |
| other nutrients. They also contain high quality | | | | if you can. Stay away from the high fat, high |
| protein, which is rare in non-animal products. Sea | | | | sugar additives. |
| vegetables can be found at health food stores | | | | Green Tea - You probably already know that |
| and in Japanese markets. | | | | green tea has been found to be a super food for |
| Nuts and seeds - Walnuts are especially excellent | | | | its high concentration of antioxidants and EGCG, a |
| for the brain because they contain an abundance | | | | compound in green tea that has been found to |
| of EFAs in the right balance. They are also full of | | | | have very strong anti-cancer, anti-aging and other |
| arginine, an amino that stimulates pituitary | | | | health benefits. The best of the best is Japanese |
| functions that manufacture and release growth | | | | Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder that is |
| hormone, which naturally slows as we age. | | | | mixed right into hot water. It isn't steeped or |
| Acai - I almost hate to mention this next one | | | | filtered. You drink the whole thing. There are |
| because of all the commercialization and | | | | many places online to get good quality Japanese |
| misinformation about, but the Acai berry contains | | | | Matcha. Matcha contains astronomical levels of all |
| all of the antioxidant, vitamin and brain benefits of | | | | the healthy benefits of regular green tea. |
| other berries and also contains EFAs like | | | | So feed your brain right and it will stay sharp well |
| Omega-3's and is even high in protein. Acai has | | | | into your later years. |