The Brain

     It’s a well-known fact that the brain controls the human body. Without the brain functioning correctly your body will also have a difficult time functioning.  Its no wonder the brain is defined in the dictionary  as “the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.” (“Brain”). Our overall health is completely reliant on the brain. In this blog I will explain how to stay healthy by eating foods that cater to the brain and it’s health. The brain is the powerhouse of the body and needs to be taken care of in order to maintain total body health.

     In 2012, the Society of Neuroscience completed a study on how diet affects the brain. They found out that obesity is liked to impaired cognitive function. (“News”).  Cognitive function refers to a person’s ability to process thoughts. Cognitive function also refers to speech, memory, and the ability to understand what you read. I found this to be very interesting. I had no clue that body fat is directly related to these functions.  Researchers also found that skipping breakfast causing binge eating and a higher calorie intake because the “pleasure-seeking part of the brain is activated by pictures of high-calorie food. Skipping breakfast also appears to increase food consumption at lunch, possibly casting doubt on the use of fasting as an approach to diet control.” (“News”). 

     So what foods should we be eating to help make are brains strong and healthy?

According to the Society for Neuroscience, “a high-sugar diet may affect insulin receptors in the brain and dull spatial learning and memory skills. But omega-3 supplements may at least partially offset this effect.” (“News”). Most people would rather not have to take pills all the time to offset the effects of their bad choices, so another option would be to find foods to help with this. Fruits can help solve a craving for something sweet. For example watermelon, pineapple, honeydew, grapes, clementine oranges. All of these fruits are in season about this time of year. Foods high in omega-3 include Kidney, pinto, and mungo beans. You can also try broccoli, cauliflower, winter squash, spinach,  and nuts and seeds such as flax seeds. (“8 Easy Ways”). Flax seeds are packed with omega-3! Try stocking up on these items and see if there is a change in your brain functions.  Blueberries and turmeric are also known to have a high concentration of antioxidants which, According to the Brain Research Institute at UCLA, are “believed to aid long-term memory, learning ability and recovery from brain damage.” (“Brain Research”).  If the brain is the powerhouse of the body, we all should want to keep it strong and functioning to its highest ability!

Works Cited

"8 Easy Ways to Load Up on Healthy Omega-3 Fats." US News. U.S.News & World Report. jjjjjWeb. 27 Apr. 2014.

"Brain." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 25 Apr. 2014

"Brain Research Institute." Brain Research Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

"News Releases Archives." Society for Neuroscience. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.