A recent episode of the TV show, The Doctors, linked poor food choices to shrinkage of the brain and shared information about which foods can help heal and even prevent common illnesses like a lack of energy or a low mood.
First though, we’ve all heard that eating too much sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates can lead to obesity. What we didn’t know is that these poor food choices can actually cause our brain to shrink. It’s been verified by brain scans that as a person becomes obese, their brain gets smaller. Other studies link poor food choices to depression, indicating that the brain is possibly more affected by food choices than anything else.
It’s interesting to note that these poor food choices cause our brains to beg for more. When we eat foods containing sugar, including fructose, it stimulates the pleasure center of the brain causing it to want more. The brain then sends out signals to let us know it’s not satiated so that we’ll eat more. Meals with a lower sugar content, however, cause the pleasure center to calm down.
While the wrong foods can negatively affect the brain, the right foods can actually heal or prevent certain illnesses. For example, those who suffer from cold sores can prevent outbreaks with the oil of the lemon balm plant and eating honey and yogurt may help to slow the viral growth.
The anti-inflammatory characteristics of pineapples, kale, and beans help them speed the healing of bruises. Kiwi fruit, salmon, and tuna can all help slow the progression of macular degeneration.
Oysters are handy for two reasons. Along with lean meats and whole grains, the high zinc content of oysters can help prevent the flu or colds, both of which can lead to sinus infections. Oysters, nuts, and garlic can rev-up the libido.
For skin ailments like dry skin, mangoes act as a moisturizer from the inside. Age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles respond well to cottage cheese thanks to it’s antioxidant properties and acne and rosacea are helped by mushrooms because of their riboflavin and anti-inflammatory properties.
Read the full article here: The Doctors Links Food to Brain Health
