How food affects your brain is one of the most important questions asked by women looking to increase their memory and decrease their risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The relationship between the brain and your gut has long been a hot button issue in recent years. In fact, some scientists have even studied the effect that the brain and its chemistry may have on the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The science of how food affects your brain
The science of how food affects your brain is still being fleshed out, but there are some definite connections here.First of all, the connection between your gut-brain connection and your memory can be traced back to the formation of your intestinal flora. Basically, your gastrointestinal tract is populated with millions of bacteria.
Some of these are actually beneficial while others are potentially harmful. The beneficial bacteria help maintain a healthy balance of intestinal microflora in your gut. As a result, this balance helps regulate the growth of both good and bad intestinal bacteria.But when you ingest large amounts of undigested fat, sugar, and other refined carbohydrates, the delicate balance that exists within the gastrointestinal tract is upset.
When the ecosystem gets out of whack, the helpful bacteria are unable to function properly. This results in increased production of toxins by yeast, fungi, and parasites in your body. Your brain power becomes lower, your mood swings get stronger, and your memory gets poorer – just some of the short-term side effects that you can experience when you are eating a diet that is rich in fatty acids like fatty acids found in fatty fish, walnuts, sardines, and other sources.
How ffood affects your memory
Another example of how food affects your brain comes from the way it affects your memory loss. Fatty acids wreak havoc on your brain cells, robbing them of their needed oxygen and making them lethargic. This affects your short-term and long-term memory in a variety of ways. Fatty acids accumulate in your arteries, which increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack, and consequently increases your chances for suffering from brain fog as a result.
Fatty acids accumulate in your arteries because they clog up the small holes that allow carbon dioxide and oxygen-rich blood to pass through. This can be a major contributor to increasing your blood pressure and/or lowering your cholesterol. The less oxygen and carbon dioxide you have flowing through your arteries, the less efficient your brain cells are at absorbing and using the oxygen that they need to perform. So the more fatty acids you ingest, the more your brain cells begin to function at a slower rate. As a result, short-term memory loss occurs and long-term memory loss occurs.
Another way that fatty acids mess with your brain is that they can cause your blood sugar levels to drop below normal. This lowered blood sugar creates an environment in which the neurons in your brain begin to fire at abnormal rates. As a result, you start to suffer from short-term memory loss, concentration lapses, and even depression.
A change in diet and exercise can help prevent these symptoms from developing into long-term conditions.Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for brain health. They are an essential fat that is found in fish, flaxseeds, and nuts. They are actually good for brain cell health and have been shown to improve mental functioning, particularly in those who experience chronic inflammation.
Fatty acid is beneficial to improve brain function
The reason that this fatty acid is beneficial for improving brain function is that it inhibits the activity of inflammatory molecules in the brain. Inflammation is a contributing factor in conditions like arthritis and asthma, where the body’s immune system attacks brain cells. By preventing the inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids promote improved brain health.It is also important to eat foods that are high in antioxidants.
These compounds can provide a natural boost to the brain, preventing cell deterioration and free radical damage. One of the common results of cellular aging is memory loss. By eating foods that are high in antioxidants, you can prevent this memory loss. Some of the best antioxidants include grape seed extract, green tea, and flaxseed oil.