Nutrition and the Brain
The Brain-Gut Connection: Healthy eating helps the brain.
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To make serotonin, the feel good hormone, we need to consume four vitamins and seven minerals.
- We need the right food to fight inflammation and the toxins in the environment.
- Eating the right foods may reverse anxiety and depression: Bacteria in our gut microbiome affect our emotions.
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Psychological implications in gut health: Animal Studies.
Replacing a Damaged Gut Improves a Damaged Brain
• Patients with mental health conditions often report symptoms relating to stomach problems.
• In an experiment, rats exhibiting anxiety had their microbiomes transferred with rats who did not show signs of anxiety.
• Once the transplant was completed, the two groups of rats switched roles, indicating the strong communication between the gut and the brain.
• In an experiment, rats exhibiting anxiety had their microbiomes transferred with rats who did not show signs of anxiety.
• Once the transplant was completed, the two groups of rats switched roles, indicating the strong communication between the gut and the brain.
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Animal models for gut and brain health.
What foods promote brain health?
- People who do not eat much seafood have a 65% chance of experiencing depression.
- Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and seafood found a 50% decreased risk of suicide.
- Women who ate more fruit when pregnant had children who exhibited more cognitive development at age one.
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Food groups for psychological health: Nutritional Psychiatry.
Can Multi-Vitamins and Nutrients Make a Difference?
- Multi-nutrients: Reduces irritability and self-harm in patients on the autism spectrum.
- Can help people struggling with addiction, help rage and aggression, and improve sleep.
- School-kids given multi-nutrients had a 28% decrease in school-related violations after only a few months.
Remember to Eat Real Food!
• You’re on the right track, if you’re eating food that our ancestors would recognize.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, fish, leafy greens, lean meat.
• Buy organic products whenever possible.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, fish, leafy greens, lean meat.
• Buy organic products whenever possible.
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Foods that help the brain and mind.
Foods to Avoid!
What foods should you avoid?
• Sugar and flour.
• Processed food: High in sugar, trans fats, and sodium, but they are lacking healthy nutrients.
• Sugar and flour.
• Processed food: High in sugar, trans fats, and sodium, but they are lacking healthy nutrients.
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Unhealthy foods for the brain and mind.
Where Do I Begin?
• Small goals that you can share with others to hold us accountable.
• Example: Only drink soda on the weekends.
• If you slip up, be kind to yourself. It’s a struggle for everyone.
• Example: Only drink soda on the weekends.
• If you slip up, be kind to yourself. It’s a struggle for everyone.
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Easy clean eating steps! :)