BRAIN FACT: It Is Essential That The Brain Gets Good Fats

It is essential that the brain gets good fats. The brain is 60% fat so it is critical that diets include the right kinds of fats. Fats create the myelin that insulates nerves. Myelin makes it possible for messages to be communicated throughout the brain and body effectively.

BRAIN FACT: Vegetables Help Develop Young Brains

Vegetables help develop healthy young brains. Additionally, research shows vegetables provide benefits throughout life.  One study demonstrates that older adults who ate nearly 3 servings of veggies every day slowed their natural aging cognitive decline by 40%.

Results demonstrated by the Chicago Health and Aging Project.

BRAIN FACT: Eating Breakfast Is Important For the Brain To Function Well

Eating breakfast is important for the brain to function well. A well balanced breakfast that includes a protein gives the brain what it needs. When the brain gets the nutrition it needs, this leads to more stable moods, increases in ability to pay attention, and improved memory.

Read this article for further information.

BRAIN FACT: Good Nutrition For The Body Is Good For The Brain

As a general rule good nutrition for the body is good for the brain. This is especially true with heart healthy foods.
Photo Credit: Zsuzsanna Kilian

BRAIN FACT: Meals That Include Sugar Foods Deprive The Brain Of the Nutrients It Needs to Function Well

Meals that include sugary foods without adequate amounts of protein deprive the brain of the nutrients it needs to function well. This can lead to out of control behavior, and lack of attention.

BRAIN FACT: Omega-3 Fats Are Critical To The Brain

Diets containing omega-3 fats are critical to the brain. These “good fats” contribute to the structure and function of a healthy brain. These essential fats play a part in optimal learning and behavior.

This blog post provides a list of beneficial foods.

BRAIN FACT: Missing Breakfast Can Make A Child Overly Active

Missing breakfast can make a child overly active. A healthy breakfast that includes protein provides the nutrition the brain needs to function well. A well fed brain helps a child learn better, feel better, and have more positive behavior.

Photo Credit: Peter Galbraith

Nutrition and The Brain Radio Show

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Atlanta, GA where I worked with Lauren Zimet of Early Insights, to promote the importance of nutrition and the brain.  Lauren and I co-presented at the Georgia Dietetics Annual Conference and we were also guests on the Parents Rule! Radio Show.  You have the opportunity to listen to the entire radio show here to gain insights about nutrition and the brain. Lauren has a wealth of knowledge on the topic, so treat yourself to listening.

Making the Connections to Healthy Brains

It is wonderful that there is an increasing amount of information  (and growing interest) about healthy diets, reducing stress, and the need for physical activity to keep our bodies healthy. However, when doing brain trainings I find this valuable information is often not correlated to the effects on the brain.

At the end of April I will have the wonderful opportunity to co-present at the Georgia Dietetics Conference in Atlanta.  Lauen Zimet from Healthy Insights and I will be conducting a workshop entitled, “What’s Better than Healthy Brains?”. This session is designed to provide  valuable information to increase awareness that if something is healthy for our bodies it is also benefiting our brains.

Following are some of the points that assist in creating a realization between what is healthy for the body is also healthy for the brain:

Hunger creates stress hormones because the brain doesn’t have what it needs

• When the brain is deprived of the glucose it needs this can lead to out of control behavior. A child doesn’t have the capability to deal with the feelings that occur such as: anxiety, agitation, aggression, feelings of panic, and confusion. These feelings may become temper tantrums.

Hunger may also simply lead to a child not having enough energy to learn or play.

• A child can play and learn very well after eating nutritious foods. When children eat a well balanced meal, especially breakfast, this boosts levels of serotonin (a “feel good” chemical) in the brain. 
• Ensuring  children have enough sleep also helps keep brain system in balance.  Sleep creates natural calming in the brain which stabilizes children’s moods
• Physical activity is also needed for optimal brain function. When children are active the brain simply gets more of the oxygen it needs

It is so easy. When the brain gets what it needs, plenty of sleep,  adequate nutrition, and the opportunity for physical activity  (ideally outdoors) it operates at it’s best. All of this results in children that are in better moods, and are eager and ready to learn.

BRAIN FACT: The Brain Needs Fiber and Protein Along With Carbs

Brains need to ensure fiber and protein is eaten along with carbs.  This combination makes it easier for children to pay attention and control behavior.

BRAIN FACT: Majority of Calories Goes to the Growing Brain in the First Two Years

From birth to age two about 67% of calories are used to nourish the growing brain.

GUEST BLOG: Nutrition and the brain

Hello, Happy Brain Awareness Week!

As a Speech Language Pathologist, Educator, Parent and owner of Early Insights, I am thrilled to be doing collaborative work with braininsights. Due to my deep commitment to provide information on healthy brains, it is great to have the opportunity to share a guest blog. My desire is to help parents know how to ensure they are doing all they can for their own brains as well as for their children. When we take care of ourselves we are better able to take care of our children. Both adults and children are going to function optimally when understanding and implementing knowledge of the impact nutrition has on the brain.

braininsights provides education to parents on the importance of brain development for babies...The Healthy Foundations Program of Early Insights is committed to helping educate those babies who have grown into young children (and their families)...on the importance of brain health. braininsights and Early Insights share a passion for supporting parents, babies and families on this journey.

Taking care of your brain now (whether you are a new parent, grandparent, child or teen) will pay off in later years. This is pretty much a guarantee. What we eat now, along with our overall lifestyle (i.e., stressed out or cool as a cucumber, or somewhere in between) will affect our health in the years to come. Your baby deserves YOU to follow a brain health protocol too! Children pick up on our habits, what we do is imprinted on their brain...You know the saying "actions speak louder than words"...well, it's true. If you're a good role model for your child, s/he too, will learn to take good care of her/his brain.

Wishing you all healthy choices and positive thoughts. Thanks for this guest blog opportunity. Here are some brain healthy thoughts:

Nourish Your Brain with a Healthy Diet ...

Like any high-performance machine, the brain needs top quality fuel.
A few brain healthy tips shared by the brain team:

1. Your brain needs a well-balanced, low cholesterol, low saturated (animal fat) diet.

2. Timing is significant in nutrition. Research supports the importance of a good breakfast...for everyone, not only children.

3. Protein and unsaturated fat is especially important for developing brains.

4. Fish, a rich source of protein and "healthy" fat is often referred to as the brain vitamin, otherwise known as Essential Fatty Acids (Omega Fatty Acids).

5. Your brain needs vitamins and minerals; they come from your diet.

6. Eating a natural rainbow each day, comprised of fruits and vegetables provides important antioxidants (which will help keep you healthy and help ward off colds and getting sick)

7. Research suggests antioxidant vitamins E and C protect the brain.

8. Avoid excess food. Reducing calories can help slow age-related brain changes.

9. Get out into nature...it does a brain good!

10. Studies suggest that sleep is essential for the maintenance of proper immune function, and it also serves as a mental "down time" during which neurons can repair themselves and memories can be organized into long-term storage.
As a general rule, good nutrition for the body, is good nutrition for the brain.

With positive, healthy and happy thoughts,

Lauren
 
 
Lauren Zimet, M.S.,CCC/SLP, N.D.T. Certified, is a recognized expert in speech language pathology, specializing with medically involved children with oral motor/ feeding and communication issues, as well as neurotypical children supporting healthy development and enhancing self esteem. She is the founder of Healthy Foundations, an Atlanta based education program geared for infants and children of all abilities. Healthy Foundations facilitates brain health awareness and all that relates to caring for a healthy brain and body. Lauren has been published in a variety of publications: Parenting Magazine, Advance Magazine for Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, and contributed to The LCP Solution by Dr. Jacqueline Stordy and The Late Talker, by Dr. Marilyn Agin. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Communications and a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University, FL. Lauren is thrilled to be collaborating with braininsights on promoting brain health awareness for babies, children and adults. Please visit http://www.earlyinsights.com/ for more information.