Eating whatever takes your fancy and hoping for the best is not an option for those who are serious about battling the symptoms of ADD/ADHD through powering up the brain in the most efficient and beneficial way possible!
This week’s article exclusively focuses on extractive description of those issues which we had tackled over the period while we learnt about brain and its functioning besides other interesting points. This article will have detailed and elaborative description of this crucial aspect. I will remain confined to the descriptive part of this issue rather than going into the technical one. I have used this technique to present information in the form of “Top 8 Nutrition Tips for Optimum Brain Function” without making any complexity.
1. Maintain Balance: Human body is controlled by its most complex organ called brain. Don’t presume that it will work effectively by just one category of food. Overall growth and effective functioning of brain is possible through having best categories of nutrients like enough quantity of vitamin and minerals. It is therefore suggested that don’t concentrate on a particular supplement only. Go for all varieties in appropriate manner.
2. Do not skimp on protein: This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is often the case that people skimp on protein, either through neglect or through following the latest diet fad. The fact is however, that your body and brain cannot function properly without the basic building blocks provided by sufficient amounts of protein in your diet. Making sure that you get enough protein is especially important if you are following a vegetarian diet as you will need to constantly combine certain foods to make sure that you achieve the right protein mix.
3. Choose consistent energy supplying methodology: Our bodies can’t perform effectively without being controlled by brain. As it is significant energy consuming part of our body at using approximately 20% of consumed energy, it plays greater role in the body. Brain should be supplied constant energy. When energy supplying process is continuous and balanced, its impact is seen for extended periods. Low-GI food is recommended to fulfill this particular aim. The foods release energy for longer periods and are good dietary options to nourish brain.
4. Eat the right kinds of fats: Fats perform key functions in terms of protection and membrane formation in the brain. These roles are best fulfilled by fats that are optimally suited for this role and that are therefore needed by the brain in sufficient quantities. The most important ‘brain fatty acids’ are: Omega 3, Omega 6 and ‘pure’ DHA. Including sources of these fats in your diet is one of the most important things that you can do to improve brain power.
5. Don’t forget the vitamins and minerals: The human brain needs several kinds of vitamins and minerals in order to do its job of being the nerve center of the body properly. Some of the most important ones are: Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Vitamin C and Magnesium.
6. Keep yourself away from toxins and harmful substances: You should never, ever take foods which are laced with some sort of pesticide or the other. A few chemicals substances are least harmful but their excessive intake can prove fatal as they are very problematic. Some of these chemicals are particular artificial colours and flavours. The trans-fatty acids too are harmful as they are the byproducts of heating fats.
7. Take necessary supplements: Having balanced diet these days is a draconian task. Usually it is not possible to manage proper mixing of food ingredients so that nutrients, vitamins and minerals required for effective functioning of brain are achieved through diet. In such circumstances, it becomes mandatory to take extra supplements of a particular category of nutrients. Mostly trans-fatty acids and particular categories of vitamins are given as supplements.
8. Do regular exercise: Although exercise is not a ‘nutrition tip’ but it is highly beneficial in keeping you healthy and fit. Whenever you do some sort of exercise your blood circulation starts increasing and this ultimately benefits your body as well as brain which gets an opportunity to consume power while controlling the entire body. Another benefit of exercise is it reduces fat levels from your body. The researchers have proved that storing of fat, particularly in the mid portion of the body affects bodies and ultimately brains.
Whatever discussed above is part of our common sense. It is ironical that people understand intricacies but don’t initiate any measure. You can make up your mind why still some people are ‘fuzzy’ and ambitionless. When we fight with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD we must take special care to keep our brains ‘do the right thing’ in terms of nutrition.
