Nutrition, Antioxidants and Brain Health, Oh My!

The relationship between antioxidants and brain health is the subject of on-going research. The subject of brain food health, so to speak, is relatively new, although we’ve known about fish for many years.

Fish is considered the ultimate brain food because of the “gray matter” is primarily composed of an omega-3 fatty acid known as DHA. Our brains need it to maintain and rebuild cells. In clinical research, supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids has been show to improve conditions such as depression, multiple sclerosis and attention deficit disorder.

Students given fish oil supplements, the best source of DHA, seem to have fewer behavioral problems, an increased ability to focus and higher test scores. But, when it comes to antioxidants and brain health, there have been mixed results in human clinical trials.

There is no doubt that the human body needs antioxidants and regular supplementation is important, simply because the foods that we eat are not as nutritious as they once were. We have a tendency to eat more processed and cooked foods. These do not have the antioxidant content or raw fruits and vegetables. Only tomatoes become more nutritious when cooked.

When it comes to brain food health, you must first focus on overall nutrition. When you are not getting enough of any vitamin or mineral, regardless of which one, your brain will not function optimally.

When something is missing from the diet, nutrients are redirected to the functions that keep us alive, thus cognitive abilities are reduced. Thing about how you feel if you go all day without eating. You feel tired and dull.

Of course, a heavy meal can have the same effect. That’s why nutritionists recommend 6-8 small meals per day, rather than two or three large meals. These are your first steps towards brain food health. Eat small amounts at regular intervals, take a daily multi-vitamin and include raw fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

When it comes to antioxidants and brain health, you may wonder which vitamins and coenzymes are most important. The problem is that no one knows. When researchers study antioxidant therapy, they use a combination of vitamins C and E, but there are other lesser known plant antioxidants known as bioflavonoids that are also important.

The best choice for brain food health is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday. Spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and grapes, all of the berries, plums, avocados oranges, bell peppers, cherries and kiwis are just some of the plant foods that contain unique antioxidants that are important to your overall and your brain’s health.

As researchers continue to study the connection between antioxidants and brain health, we may have more specific answers. Right now, everything on the subject of brain food health is very broad.

Lots of the information comes from supplement manufactures or the food industry. For example, the latest hype concerns the health benefits of eating chocolate. Those benefits have been largely overstated. There is definitely a connection between antioxidants and brain health, because the gray matter is one of the first areas to suffer from oxidative stress, but as long as you eat right and take your vitamins, you’re doing all that you can.