How The Food You Eat Affects Your Brain

The choices of your food has a direct and long lasting impact on the master of your body, The Brain. That’s why you feel tired and restless after having certain foods and light and alert after having some other foods. Let’s dig deeper into the composition of Human Brain to know how our food choices affect the Brain

If we take off all the moisture out off the Brain, rest of the brain contains

Fats
Proteins
Micro Nutrients
Sugars

Brain is more than just its nutritional parts.However each of these components have it’s distinctive impact on it’s Functioning, Development, Mood & Energy. So that post lunch apathy or mid-night restlessness might be the affect of the food you eat on Brain.

What is the impact of the food components on our brain?

FATS

Not only the body, Trans and Saturated fatty acids may compromise brain health. Over all the fats, Omega 3& Omega 6 fatty acids are the super stars for brain health. They help in the maintenance of brain health. Lack of proper supply of these essential fatty acids degenerate brain condition. They should come from diet. Eating omega fatty acids rich food like Nuts, Seeds and Fatty Fish are essential for the creation and maintenance of cell membrane and maintenance of brain health

PROTEINS

The Protein and Amino acids are not only essential in the growth and development of human body but also the brain. Protein & Amino acids manipulate how we feel and behave.
The complex combination of components in foods can stimulate brain cells to release mood altering neurotransmittors Norepinephrine, Dopamine and Serotonin. Among other foods, Amino acids act as Precursors to Neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers. Neurotransmitters carry signals between neurons, affecting things like Mood, Sleep, Attentiveness and Weight.

MICRO NUTRIENTS

Like other parts of our body, Brain also benefits from the steady supply of Micro Nutrients. Vit B6, B12, Folic acid & Anti-oxidants are all Brain needs for proper functioning.
Free radicals destroy brain cells. Anti-oxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain in fighting the free radicals. They enable the brain to work for longer periods. Without powerful micro nutrients like Vitamin B6, B 12 and Folic Acid, Brain is susceptible to brain disease and mental decline.

MINERALS

Minerals like Copper, Iron, Zinc and Sodium are fundamental for Early Cognitive development and Brain Health. Nuts, Fruits & Vegetables supply essential minerals that help in the mainte

SUGARS

In order for the brain to officially transform and synthesise Fats, Protein, Micro- Nutrients and Minerals, it needs fuel. While Human Brain weighs up to only 2% of our body weight, it uses up to 20% of energy resources. Most of this energy comes from carbohydrates in the form of glucose, the final form of carbohydrates.
Assuming that Our body gets glucose regularly, a specific type of carbohydrates that we eat, affects the way our brain works. We get carbs in 3 forms; Starch, Sugars and Fibres. In all the nutritional labels, all these 3 are lobbed into one total carb count.

The Best Carbs For Brain

The amount of fibre and starch and sugar combination in a particular food affects the way our body and brain reacts. If you eat a high glycemic food like white bread, there is a rapid release of glucose into the blood and followed by a gradual decline; there by the shoot down of attention span and mood.
On the other hand, Oats, Legumes, and Grains have slower glucose release into the blood enabling a steadier level of attentiveness.

Regional Neurological Associates

Bottom Line!

The food we eat is not only important for the functioning of the body but also in the Growth, Development and Functioning of it’s MASTER, The Brain. Our food choices also affects Mood and Energy levels. A diet with range of foods help maintain a balance combination of brain messengers enabling the Mood getting skewed from one direction to the other.
Change in the mental functions is one of the primary signals of nutrient deficiency. Hence, make sure you eat right combination of food to maintain Brain Health. Fatty Fish for Omega 3 & 6; Sprouts for Proteins; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds for Micro-nutrients and Minerals; Oats, Legumes and Grains for healthy carbs can be considered as Brain Healthy Foods.