Brain Foods Increase Memory, Alertness, Mood and Energy Levels

By: Paul Crantz
We know that the foods we eat affect the body. But they may have even more of an influence on how the brain works—and levels of energy and how it handles its tasks. Mood, motivation and mental performance are powerfully influenced by diet. There are certain foods and or nutrients that make a huge difference in how we live and perform throughout our daily lives.The brain is an extremely active organ, metabolically speaking, and as such tends to be very picky and demanding when it comes to eating. While it may be used to and demand junk food, for instance, it Needs foods that are high in certain fatty acids for optimal brain health. The health of your brain depends not only on how much (or little) fat you eat but on what kind it is. Intellectual performance requires the specific type of fat found most commonly in fish, known as Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is found in certain fish oils, mostly from the salmon species in fresh water and the oily salt water types such as sardines, extremely rich in omega 3's, tuna, mackerel and others, to name a few.Omega 3's are critical to the outer layers of brain cells, through which all nerve signals must pass. Also, as learning and memory create new connections between nerve cells, new membrane cells must be formed to contain these connections. A good analogy might be adding ram to your computers motherboard. Anyhow, omega 3 is crucial to these brain components.
It's possible to boost alertness, memory and stress resistance by supplying food components that are found in important brain neurotransmitters. One of them is choline, the fat-like B vitamin found in eggs. Choline has been found to improve memory and reaction time functions in people, especially the aging population. Also, choline has been proven to increase endurance in athletes, especially runners. Here are some other brain boosters, all readily available...Sugar can make you sharp—although no one can figure out what is the right dose at the right time. Carbohydrates are also effective, especially when eaten with no protein or fat, may also be mentally soothing. Peanut butter is a good example and works for me when I need a quick pick me upper. Then, there's chocolate! Chocolate has been shown to increase endorphins, opiate like chemicals secreted by the nervous system that stimulate feelings of pleasure and well being. Now I know why I'm addicted to anything chocolate.There is a huge amount of information available on brain metabolism, but following a diet rich in omega 3 is a solid proven foundation for anyone to start with. Bon appetit'.MLA Style Citation:Crantz, Paul "Brain Foods Increase Memory, Alertness, Mood and Energy Levels." Brain Foods Increase Memory, Alertness, Mood and Energy Levels. 8 May. 2007. EzineArticles.com.