Kinetic Enterprise - eZine Article

< eZine Archives Menu

Fueling Your Fire - September 17, 2006

Fuzzy Brain

The clients I work with are smart, no doubt about it. They are energetic, creative, curious, and inspirational in their ability to turn vision into action. So what powers all of this “intelligence in action?” Yep, you are right, some pretty amazing brains.

The last edition of Fueling Your Fire explored how the food we eat affects our bodies; this edition highlights how the food we eat affects our brains. And, guess what? You’re in luck because many of the super foods listed in the last edition (Super Foods) are not only good for your body, they are also stellar for the health and longevity of your brain.

Elizabeth Somer, in her book Food & Mood, writes, “It is clear that nutrition plays a vital role in intellect, memory, thinking, and personality, and that brain power fluctuates depending on what and when you eat...what you eat could have profound effects on how you think, on your intelligence level, and on your memory.”

Eeee-gads! Are you contemplating putting the remains of your chip bag from lunch in the trashcan right now? Good. Because those chips could not only cause you “Fuzzy Brain” (not a technical term) this afternoon, but they could lead to “Super Fuzzy Brain” (again, not a technical term) later in life. So, how does what’s on your plate right now affect your mental clarity throughout the day? And what can you do to continue to have lifelong access to that amazing brain of yours? While the scientific world is still uncovering the dietary components that make for optimal mental functioning, we already know a lot. Some of the tips below will keep your brain happy for today and many years to come.

Avoiding “Fuzzy Brain” (i.e. what and when to eat for optimal brain access today)

The brain is metabolically very active—which basically means it needs a lot of fuel—yet, unlike muscles, it has no way of storing fuel. Additionally, there is only one main energy source that is able to cross the “blood-brain barrier” (this is a “gate-keeper” between the body and the brain whose purpose is to shield the central nervous system from harmful substances that may be present in the blood) and this energy source is glucose (read: carbohydrates). Because the brain can’t store fuel, and it is fueled almost entirely by glucose, when you don’t have a steady supply of glucose in your body, your brain suffers and “fuzzy brain” is the result.

Here are some simple tips to keep you fueling the fine mass of grey matter between your ears:

1.	ALWAYS eat breakfast (remember, the brain can't store fuel, so after a full night of dreaming you need to send it energy to support a morning of thinking).

2.	Keep meals small and frequent (again, your brain can't store fuel; you need a steady supply in your blood to feed it).

3.	Combine some protein with carbohydrate-rich foods (protein increases the brain level of tyrosine, a primary building block for the critical brain-energizing chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine).

Some basic rules of thumb that will keep you sharp and alert all day:

	Breakfast: Make it rich in high-quality carbohydrates to kick-start the supply chain to your brain. If you want to go for the super foods triple-header, try a bowl of oatmeal topped with blueberries and walnuts.

	Lunch: High-fat, high-calorie meals can leave you sleepy and unable to focus in the afternoon. Stick to meals that are higher in protein and packed with veggies. Super foods-packed choice: turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with leafy-greens, tomato and avocado is a simple and fast stand-by.

	Dinner: Keep this meal light and try to eat early to aid good sleep. A combination of lean protein, veggies, and a complex carbohydrate will help both your brain and body recover from a day of being in motion. Super foods menu choice: grilled or broiled salmon, steamed veggies and brown rice or whole grain bread.

	Snacks: It is important to keep a steady supply of glucose in your body, so high-quality snacks are important for optimal brain functioning. Stick to snacks that will provide complex carbohydrates combined with protein and some healthy fats. Super food-packed combinations are: yogurt with fresh fruit and walnuts or almonds; whole grain bread spread with hummus, or an apple with almond or peanut butter.

Now that you’ve tossed your chip bag in the trash and are beginning to envision your days filled with access to the Einstein-esque brilliance you’ve always known you had, you’ll want to stay tuned for the next edition of Fueling Your Fire as we uncover some of the nutritional keys to staving off "Super Fuzzy Brain."

Until next time,

Subscribe to Fueling Your Fire | Privacy Policy | Archives Menu

Return to Top