Food for the brain WELLNESS

The brain is the master controller of all the metabolisms, thoughts, emotion and physical state. Most of us tend to ignore the brain’s biological needs. And as a result as we grow older we face difficulties in remembering names and dates. Our level of mental alertness dips down.

To function properly, our brain needs oxygen, glucose and other nutrients. Lack of these lead to short-term memory loss and mental fatigue. Sometimes it can have serious repercussions in the form of mental diseases that involve wide scale, permanent memory loss such as Alzheimer’s disease, senile dementia and others.

Memory loss primarily happens due to ageing. Stress too can lead to forgetfulness. Insufficient blood supply plays an enormous role. Certain medications have side effects like mental fogginess and lack of concentration. Diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s can also cause memory disturbances. Nutrition can affect the brain’s working. As we grow older or are more stressed, food can either aggravate our mental inefficiencies or slow down the ageing process to a remarkable extent.

Absent-mindedness, distraction, lethargy, dizziness, a ringing in the ears, headaches, emotional disturbances like paranoia, anxiety or depression are the other tell-tale signs. You don’t need medical treatment unless the problem is severe. Memory loss due to ageing or stress can be checked with a little more attention towards nutrition. Lack of vitamin C, E and betacarotene can hasten your aging process. Add carrots, citrus fruits, fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet. Battle stress by correcting your lifestyle, adopting a regular exercise regime and practicing meditation techniques. Adequate sleep will help you recharge your brain.

Herbs like ginkgo and ginseng improve overall mental health. They improve decision-making abilities, increases attention span and mnemonic capacity Acetyl-Lcarnitine is another nutrient that helps people who have loss of memory and declining mental alertness due to age. It is known to improve mood, improve logic and reasoning.

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