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Top 10 Brain Foods
Related Links
Foods That Fight Depression
Ideal Diet to Fight Bipolar Disorder
ADHD-Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies
Reduce Alzheimer's Risk-- Why You Need Lithium In Your Diet
Ideal Breakfast to Fight Alzheimer's
Curry Fights Alzheimer's
Salmon Health Benefits
Foods That Fight Schizophrenia
Fish Oil Benefits -Count the Ways
Magnesium--The Forgotten Essential Mineral
Ideal Diet to Reduce Fibroid Tumors
Ideal Diet for Endometriosis
Inflammation --The Secret Link to Disease
How to Tell If You Are Having a Nervous Breakdown
June 15, 2011
By Michael Chang, Contributing Columnist
6. Pumpkin Seeds Enhance Memory and Fight Depression
If you want a great study snack that can help ward off the
extra weight often gained during finals season and that can
help retain the information being absorbed, try pumpkin
seeds. These healthy snacks contain two main components
that are useful with your mental health. First, zinc is
associated with enhanced memory and thinking skills, so
ensuring that you have your daily dosage will help you with
studying.
Second, pumpkin seeds also contain L-tryptophan, an amino
acid known to be a natural depression treatment. It triggers
production serotonin, a drug commonly used to treat
depression. Side effects of taking serotonin can be
abundant; however, because of the small quantities in
pumpkin seeds, consuming these snacks will only have the
beneficial effects without the negative effects.
7. Cacao Beans Can Make You Happy, Fending Off Depression
While cocoa beans are the main ingredient for chocolate, the
two are not one and the same. Highly processed chocolate
with sugar, milk, and artificial flavorings lack the same health
benefits.
However, consuming minimally processed cacao beans can
help you reap many cognitive enhancement benefits. Cacao
beans are also rich in antioxidants and other minerals that
can stave off toxins in your body. However, this does not
give you free reign to much on all the Hershey’s candy bars
that you want. The health benefits of cacao beans can only
realized with either 100% organic cocoa power or high
cacao percentage dark chocolate with at least 75% cacao
content.
Seratonin, dopamine, and phenylethylamine contain three
neurotransmitters that are associated with healthy and good
moods, earning cacao beans the title of nature’s anti-
depressant. The brain chemistry aroused by consuming
these chemicals, naturally produced by this superfood, can
fend off depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases.
8. Eat Some Complex Carbohydrates to Boost Your Brain
Power
Because brain cells require nearly twice as much energy as
other cells to function properly, it is important that your
brain receives the necessary energy to function around-the-
clock. Neuron transmissions are signals that your body
utilizes to communicate throughout the nervous system and
takes up nearly 10 percent of the entire body’s energy. The
best way to provide your brain that energy is through
complex carbohydrates, which work similar to time-release
capsules of sugar.
Whereas simple carbohydrates are found in refined foods
and sugars, and enter the bloodstream much more quickly,
complex carbohydrates are found in natural foods, taking
much longer to break down, and provides your brain with
the continual energy it needs to function. A few complex
carbohydrates that are perfect “brain foods” include
bananas, brown rice, lentils, root vegetables, sweet corn,
amongst many others.
9. Oysters Increases Concentration and Memory Functions
Also considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures, the oyster
is a food rich in iron and zinc, essential minerals for the
body. Zinc has been associated with better mental
performance such as memory and iron has been associated
with better concentration abilities. Because oysters are a rich
source of both of these minerals, incorporating this seafood
into your diet will enrich your brain power.
10. A Cup of Coffee Can Increase Mental Alertness
While there is debate about the health benefits or detriments
of coffee, regular coffee consumption has been shown to
reduce mental decline in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and
Dementia, according to a 2009 University of South Florida
study. Coffee is also a great source of antioxidants.
In addition, many people also experience mental alertness
when consuming this hot beverage, allowing them to better
complete their tasks at the office. According to a study
conducted by the Division of Sleep Medicine at the Brigham
and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, taking
minimal doses of caffeine over an extended period of time
can assist in increasing mental alertness.
Sip, don't gulp. So, the next time you need to pull an all-
nighter to study, don’t guzzle down liters of coffee. Rather,
gradual consumption would allow you to be more productive
in your study time. (Read more about the how coffee may
fight cancer and whether coffee causes high blood
pressure.)
You're just getting started. Learn more about the
relationship between your diet and your risk for other
diseases and conditions: Bipolar Disorder-An Ideal
Diet/ADHD-Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies /10 Foods
That Fight Depression / How Much Is Too Much Salt?
/Sugar-The Disease Connection / Are Diet Sodas Bad for
Your Health? / Ideal Breakfast for Diabetics / Ideal
Breakfast for Arthritis /Healing Foods Links / Foods That
Shrink Your Waist / Foods That Lower Cholesterol/ VLDL-
The Other Cholesterol/ Foods That Reduce Blood Pressure
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