Brain Nutrition

Healthy Food Bytes: Brain Nutrition

Don’t be too quick to cut out the carbs to lose weight. All of those high-protein diets can mess-up your memory. The brain needs glucose for fuel, and whole grains, fruits and vegetables is the best way to supply the brain with this fuel. The body can store only one to two days of glucose; when it is gone, your blood sugar drops. Fats and proteins don’t supply enough glucose to sustain peak brain power, says Dr. Holly Taylor, cognitive psychologist at Tufts. Studies show that low-carb diets such as Atkins, may compromise mental abilities. One study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007, showed that people on a high carbohydrate diet (more whole grains, fruits and vegetables) processed information more quickly than those on a low carbohydrate diet (more fat and protein).

A balanced low-calorie diet will boost brain power. Keep in mind that eating nutrient rich foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods such as processed (lunch meats, hot dogs etc), high-fat foods. So you will be able to eat more, not go hungry, and still maintain a low-calorie diet. Many Americans are undernourished. They mostly eat nutrient depleted processed foods – and a lot of it.

Also, eating more carbs is a great opportunity to bulk up on fiber. A two year study at Birgham Young University in Utah suggest if you want to prevent weight gain and encourage weight loss – no need to diet, just eat more fiber. And, eating more will help you lose weight. This is true because fiber helps you feel full and has no calories. See my blog entry on fiber for more information.

The RDA for carbs is 130 grams per day. This is to provide the amount of glucose needed by the brain to function properly. What does that look like - a cup of oatmeal, an apple, two slices of whole grain bread, and ¾ cups of cooked whole grain pasta in a given day.

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Brain Nutrition