Food for Thought
Contributed By Sandy | Published: Aug 30, 2005
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by Alymanta Credibilener the administrator and delegate of
incredible food, Inc.
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With increasing competition in all walks of life, everyone
wants to become more intelligent. Most of us feel that our
brain is not working to its full capacity. There are many
medicines, supplements and dietary regimes that promise
just that. The veracity of these claims is however a
million dollar question.
Modern research does show that some foodstuffs do help in
development of the brain. Fish oils from the tuna, sardines
and mackerel provide fat essential for brain development of
a child during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
Research also shows that close pregnancies do indeed
inhibits mother's supply of essential fatty acids required
for brain development. Otherwise the chances of a child
going short are quite less. The developing world is beset
with problems of malnutrition, short interval between two
pregnancies. As a result, brain-developing nutrient is
short and this adversely affects the mental growth of many
children in these areas.
Adults also require balanced food for their brains to work
efficiently. There is no single diet for that and different
foods need to be taken. Fatty acids and amino acids are
equally required by them just as the babies do. The amino
acids are useful in making neurotransmitters for
communication between brain cells. Carbohydrates provide
glucose, which is used as fuel by the brain. The brain is
like a complex computer that humans cannot duplicate. Even
the fruits and vegetables provide it with antioxidants to
protect its cells from damage.
To keep your brain healthy and fit, make sure that you have
protein-rich diet like meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses.
Carbohydrates are also vital for brain development and can
be found in diets such as pasta, bread, potatoes and rice.
Other micronutrients, which can really sharpen your brain,
are fresh apples, pears and carrots. Experts suggest you to
have lots of fruits.
But what about foods that do more than just keep the brain
ticking over? Well, recent research has suggested that
Indian curries may be able to fight off Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists working at the University of California Los
Angeles found that the yellow turmeric, or more precisely
the curcumin it contains, may be able to do the trick.
The experiment that proved it was simple. Rats were fed
curcumin in lab conditions. As a result, beta-amyloid
levels in their brains dropped. This protein is the root
cause of Alzheimer's disease and the success of this
experiment suggests that the fight against this disease is
on the right track. Hence brain-deterioration that occurs
in this disease could be reversed. This would be a source
of relief to many of the patients of this deadly disease.
Alymanta Credibilener is the administrator and delegate of
incredible food, Inc. which is a premier resource
for food information. For questions or comments,
go to: www.incrediblefood.com
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