FOOD FOR THOUGHTS

   Want to be smarter with less stress and more energy?  Emerging research from the fields of neuroscience and nutrition shows that by changing what we eat, our moods can be more stable, improve our focus and boost our brain health, all while thinning our stomach.  It includes foods that are rich in nutrients like vitamin A an E, iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron, fiber, all that silently builds contentment, all “foods for thought and a great mood.”

   If you do better by making lists, the first thing to do is to remind yourself to reduce the amount of processed food we eat.  Too much sugar is added to so many processed foods that shrink key brain areas involved in mood regulations.  In any situation two thoughts may come to you – one that wishes to verbalize your appreciation and express to your youngster how great his table manners have become by eating more slowly and nutritiously.  Before it gets expressed, this complimentary angle may change and one might think to save time by choosing to express your thought negatively by saying, “It sure looks better than the way you used to gulp your food like you can’t stand to stay at the table and eat with us.”  It’s more readily received if that thought had been switched to a more acceptable one like:  “I notice that you are enjoying fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods that sharpen your brain and your school report cards show it does.”

      Do you want more brain cells?  Then start with an egg which is rich in B12, crucial for avoiding depression, irritability, depression and cognitive decline.  So add some early morning sunlight or vitamin D pills, since deficiencies can lead to lethargy, weight gain, depression, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.  The standard barnyard egg is a nutritional powerhouse. 

   To promote production of neurotransmitters include vegetable oils that have Vitamin A, promoting production of neurotransmitters.  Grass fed beef contains heme iron, the most absorbable form since the brain needs a constant flow of vitamin B12 suggesting improvement of academic performance.  Dark leafy vegetables are among the most nutrient dense food we eat, found in folates like arugula and spinach.  Greens are rich in calcium that releases neurotransmitters every time a neuron fires which maintains a healthy gut crucial for the proper absorption of other nutrients.  Even potatoes that have a bad rap unless you eat the skins that contain iodine that protects the brain, critical when diagnosed with depression, the first thing a psychiatrist may want to ask you about.