Keeping Your Brain Healthy

Your brain is a real oxygen hog. Although it makes up only a small percentage of your body weight, it uses about 20 percent of the oxygen you inhale. You couldn’t live without oxygen, but as your body processes this essential gas, it sometimes creates harmful, unstable molecules called free radicals. Since your brain uses so much oxygen, it may be a particular target for free radical damage.
Luckily, your body produces natural free radical scavengers called antioxidants. You can also get them from food. Colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. The brighter and deeper the color, the more antioxidant power contained inside. Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, selenium, and zinc are powerful antioxidants.
Powerful protection from tea: Green, black or red teas contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. In fact, five cups of tea a day can give you as much antioxidant protection as two servings of veggies. So relax and sip something good for you - a cup of tea.
Plan to eat as many of these colorful fruits & vegetables by having them handy.
Keep a bag of baby carrots in your refrigerator for a quick and easy snack.
Add more vegetables to your sandwiches. Add some cucumber slices, shredded carrots, green or red pepper strips, romaine lettuce, tomato, red onion.
To save time buy spring mixed pre-packaged salads with lots of dark green spinach, endive, mustard greens, dandelion.
Fresh is best, but frozen or canned vegetables are convenient and their nutritional value is close to fresh. Frozen or canned peas, spinach, broccoli are just a few top choices.
Peel a yam, cut it into discs and place it in a casserole dish with about 2 tablespoons of water. Set the microwave for 9 minutes and then sprinkle with cinnamon. You can even spray it with a healthy omega 3 margarine.
Cantaloupe, watermelon, fresh pineapple, pears, apples or an orange make easy the job of eating healthy. Raisins, blue berries, strawberries and grapes are also good tasting and easily prepared for a quick snack.
Memory loss is a major symptom of niacin deficiency. Your body can make niacin from tryptophan, an amino acid also important to your brain’s health. To get your niacin naturally, eat tuna, liver, chicken, beef, baked potatoes and mushrooms.
Tennis anyone? You need good eye-hand coordination. Studies show that low levels of dietary boron result in poorer performance on tests of eye-hand coordination, long-term and short-term memory, perception, and manual dexterity. Boron also helps your body absorb calcium, so it’s important for strong bones. Good food sources include leafy vegetables, soybeans, apples, raisins, almond, Brazil nuts and grains.