Feed Your Brain

By Donna Stark

There are many reasons why we choose to follow a healthy diet, but the one that tops most people's list is the desire to have a great looking body. After all, there are abs to be sculpted and muscles to be born and everyone knows that the perfect body starts in the kitchen, right? Well, what about the perfect brain? Have you ever considered adding optimal brain health to your list of reasons why a nutrient-dense diet is so important? If you haven't, it's time to take a hard look at what you have written, because without a healthy brain, there isn't much you can do about your body.

Feed Your Brain

Usually, we will talk to our friends about diets when we are discussing the latest fad or the pair of jeans we couldn't fit into. Sometimes we may even share tips on what to eat and when to eat it because we have seen it work so well for "you-know-who" down the street. But we rarely sit around a table sharing tips on what to eat for the health of our brains, do we? Well, it's time to start that discussion! Take a look at a few of the really important tips on what to eat for a strong and capable brain.

• Omega-3 fatty acids - Omega-3 fatty acids provide the building blocks for healthy brain development. They have been shown to help fight memory loss, improve the function of the brain, and reduce inflammation. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in food such as fatty fish, walnuts, soybeans, and chia seeds.
• Antioxidants - Blueberries, raspberries, broccoli, and other leafy green vegetables that are rich in antioxidants have been shown to increase the number of connections in the brain, help fight mental decline, and reduce the risk of serious medical conditions, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
• Vitamins - Vitamins B, D, and E are essential for healthy brain development. They help to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases, inflammation, and mental decline and are helpful in the fight against depression. You can find these vitamins in foods such as oats, quinoa, eggs, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, and bananas.

Healthy Brain for a Healthy Body

Your brain is needy. It needs a lot of energy to work properly throughout your entire life, so start treating it well as soon as you can! And if you already do treat it well, keep it up! Because when you enter the door to your golden years, you may not care that much about your physical appearance, but you will care about how well your brain works.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Littleton, Colo.