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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Health
Your brain is a hungry little organ. It needs lots of nutrition to keep it running smoothly, but not the bottled kind. You can increase the chances of maintaining a healthy brain well into your old age, by including these ‘super foods’ in your diet! Blueberries are definitely a dominant fruit when it comes to maintaining your health. Researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and reduce the chance of acquiring conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia. Deep-water fishes such as wild salmon (wild-caught) are extremely rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are also essential for healthy brain function. Other oily fish high in omega-3 include: Sardines and Herring. Four-ounce servings, 2-3 times a week will lead to a happy and healthy brain. Nuts and seeds are great sources of vitamin E and if you didn’t already know, higher levels of vitamin E correspond with less cognitive decline as you age. Adding an ounce a day of walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, filberts, almonds (YUM), cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds, flax seed and un-hydrogenated nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter and tahini. If have concerns about your sodium levels, make sure to purchase unsalted nuts! The ‘masked’ and ‘cost-efficient’ Beans are next on the list. Beans are known to stabilize glucose levels, which the brain is dependent upon for fuel. But, since the brain cannot store glucose, it relies heavily on a stream of energy, which beans can provide. Any type of beans will do the job, especially lentils and black beans, with a serving of ½ cup a day. Leafy greens and vegetables, filled with powerful antioxidants, are one of the healthiest foods to sustain brain function. If you haven’t already, make friends with spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage ASAP! Similar to nuts and seeds, Olive Oil is a good source of vitamin E and vitamin K. Vitamin K is mostly found in the leafy vegetables mentioned above, but if you don’t eat as much as you should, you can also get the vitamin K you need from Olive Oil. Vitamin K helps to keep your brain sharp as you age and boosts your brain processing speed. Wine, especially the red variety, has been known to promote a longer lifespan, protect against certain cancers, improve mental health, and provide benefits to the heart. With that being said…DRINK UP! Now, the last ‘super food’ is directly from SPT!
Grape Seed OPC It keeps the connective tissues with anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antihistaminic, anti-allergic, and anti-ulcerative properties. It helps to prevent Cancer and degenerative diseases.
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