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Brain Food

Got brain fog? Pick up a fork.

By Heather Hatfield

Feed your mind as well as your body with nutrients that might stave off some age-related loss of brain power. A study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that eating an average of just 2.8 servings of vegetables a day helped seniors slow cognitive loss by 40 percent – the equivalent of being five years younger.

Add these brain foods to your diet:

B vitamins.
What they do: Vitamins B-6 and B-12 improve blood flow, says Sue Moores, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant in St. Paul, Minn. That may help keep memory strong, though evidence is mixed.
What to eat: For B-6, legumes (including beans and peas), fortified cereals, whole grains; for B-12, meats, fish, dairy products and eggs

Omega-3 fatty acids.
What they do: These essential fatty acids improve blood flow to the brain and keep plaque from forming in blood vessels, which can lead to stroke. Low levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
What to eat: Fish, especially salmon, trout, halibut and tuna

Antioxidants and phytonutrients.
What they do: Both help minimize damage to cells in the brain and body that occurs as we age.
What to eat: Fruits and vegetables – especially berries, which are loaded with polyphenols, phytonutrients linked with better brain health

Choline.
What it does: Choline may help maintain memory as we age. It also helps transmit messages from the brain to nerves in the body.
What to eat: Eggs, nuts, whole grains, spinach and cauliflower

Laura

11 Aug 2011, 03:27

I lost quite a bit of weight when I walked only 2 miles a day. I had the pleasure of buying smaller clothing. I stopped walking and gained the weight back. I know for sure walking will help to lose weight. Drinking the sufficient amount of water is good for weigt loss.

Bob

09 Aug 2011, 11:08

Response to EARL: I recommend you stay away from Neurton. I took it for several years and had 2 fibrous tumors removed from my chest which was a side effect from the drug. It was difficult to get off it but I did it. Research the side effects.

Emily Armstrong

09 Aug 2011, 10:12

I am also involved daily in an on-line course called Lumosity to try and improve my brain function. Have you heard of it? It does seem to be improving my ability to remember and speed up thinking. I do see my averages going up from where I was in the begining. I started about eight weeks ago.

Emily Arnstrong

09 Aug 2011, 10:07

Are these things advertised for elevating your brain power really good? I think they are over-the-counter, but not totally sure. I know that they seem to have a prenatal one as well. Don't know the name of the specific product, but do see it advertised on TV.

Joanne

22 Jun 2011, 20:17

Virginia and Diane,

I too am having this problem of remembering things. I am 52 and it seems to get worse each day. My job is suffering because of it, I can't remember how to do things. I am on a Lean diet which has no dairy, nuts, or beans. I have re-incorporated these elements minimally and am taking B Complex and B-12. Please keep me updated as well.

TERRIE

06 Oct 2010, 15:04

This response is for Earl> Have the doctor put in a spine stimulator in your back, I had one put in 2007 and it was the best thing I did. It only masks the pain, but I was able to get off the pain patches and only take one pain pills, instead of taking numerous pills. The surgery is covered under most health plans, so check with your doctor.
I hope that helps for you.
PS. I had a test done before they put this in my back and my seatic nerve in my left leg has never been the same. ouch

Nora

24 Sep 2010, 08:14

Same problem of Virginia W

Diane Thibodeau

22 Sep 2010, 07:15

OMG! Virginia,I`m glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem of not remembering things right after they are said to me!!! What`s wrong??? If you get an answere, PLEASE let me know!! I`m only 52 yrs young and this frightens me terribly!!
Diane

Earl

22 Sep 2010, 01:41

I've been wanting to try Herbal Medicine because I've been on Hydrocodone /APAP 7.5, Tizanidine 4mg, and I was on Lyric 150mg but now I'm on Neurontine 600mg along with IBS & GERD Medicines for the last 3.5 yrs. along w/ dealing with so much inflamation in my spine due to having Degenerated Disc Disease. I'm finding it very hard to even get off the Hydrocodone & other meds due to severe pain when I'm off of them and then finding that there isn't anything out there except the medicine that the doctors want me to take now which is Oxycodine or something higher for the relief of pain. I'm feel like I'm caught in a Pharmacutical Trap. My pain specialists almost paralized me after performing 2 Blood Patchs on me because of a whole in my spinal canal from a Mylogram done two years ago. I couldn't move my legs at all for at least 1 hr before I was able to walk again. They told me it was because of my "Severe Spinal Stenosis". What is a person suppose to do to get doctors who want to help and who are supposed to stop looking at the Dollars Signs just so they can get cut backs on their meds. while killing their clients because of years & years of prolonged Prescription Drug Use because there are no cures?

Virginia Weatherly

21 Sep 2010, 11:51

I have such a time remembering what is said to me that it is really hard to say it back just after it is just told to me.
Is there something that I can take to help
me to remember better! Help me please !!

Virginia Weatherly giniretired@ymail.com

Linda Keys

22 Jul 2009, 10:05

Thank you for the great excersises for people like me that can only excersis sitting down because of severe arthritis in my needs. However, where can I get those excersise bands I saw in the still video.

Debby Griffin

15 Jul 2009, 13:32

Is soy milk okay to drink?

yashar

08 Jun 2009, 22:24

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT LECITHIN .IT IS ANOTHER

GOOD NUTRIENT FOR BRAIN THAT THEY CLAIM.

HOWEVER,SOY PRODUCTS ARE SOMEHOW QUESTAINABLE

FOR MAN.SINCE LECITHIN IS A DERIVATIVE OF SOY

IS IT SAFE TO CONSUME IT.THANK YOU

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Brain Food

Got brain fog? Pick up a fork.

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