How the food you eat affects your brain Ted Talk summary
The food we eat plays a crucial role in our brain’s functioning, development, mood, and energy. Each nutrient has a distinct impact on the brain, and it’s essential to maintain a balanced combination of brain messengers.
If you were to break down your dehydrated brain to its constituent nutritional content, most of the weight would come from fats, also known as lipids. The superstars of these fats are omega-3 and omega-6, which must come from our diets. Omega-rich foods like nuts, seeds, and fatty fish are crucial for creating and maintaining cell membranes. Long-term consumption of other fats, like trans and saturated fats, may compromise brain health.
Proteins and amino acids, the building block nutrients of growth and development, manipulate how we feel and behave. Amino acids contain the precursors to neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that carry signals between neurons, affecting things like mood, sleep, attentiveness, and weight. Eating a balanced diet with a range of foods helps maintain a balanced combination of brain messengers.
How the food you eat affects your brain
Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells, enabling your brain to work well for a longer period of time. Powerful micronutrients like the vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are also essential for brain health. Trace amounts of minerals like iron, copper, zinc, and sodium are fundamental to brain health and early cognitive development.
The human brain only makes up about 2% of our body weight but uses up to 20% of our energy resources. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for the brain, and glucose is essential for brain function. The specific type of carbohydrates we eat affects our brains. A high-glycemic food like white bread causes a rapid release of glucose into the blood, followed by a dip in blood sugar, attention span, and mood. Opting for a varied diet of nutrient-rich foods, including oats, grains, and legumes, is critical for sustained brain power.
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In conclusion, the food we eat has a direct and long-lasting effect on the most powerful organ in our body, the brain. It’s essential to eat a balanced and nutrient-rich diet to maintain optimal brain function, development, mood, and energy.
