Your Brain Needs Good Food

Aug 11, 2002

Researchers say, unlike your liver and muscles, the brain has no energy storage capacity. Yet, the brain is by far the “hungriest” organ in your body.

Nutrition With Grace CanadaResearchers say, unlike your liver and muscles, the brain has no energy storage capacity. Yet, the brain is by far the “hungriest” organ in your body.It consumes 8 to 10 times more glucose (blood sugar) and oxygen than other organs , though it represents only 2% of total body weight.Whether you are sleeping, reading, or running a marathon, your brain requires a constant supply of fuel derived from oxygen and glucose fed to it through your blood stream. If you do not receive the nutrition needed to make constant supply of energy, your brain is first to suffer.If the glucose level in your blood stream drops low enough, your brain will take the glucose away from other organs. When this happens, at best, you will become:lFoggy headed, and find it difficult to concentratel Aggressive, or irritablel At worst, symptoms such as loss of self-control, blurred vision, poor memory and a reduction in thinking ability may occur.Unfortunately, during exams and other times of intense study, students tend to miss meals. Often substituting sodas, sweets, cakes, and biscuits, white buns and other sugary foods or beverages for meals. Some students also tend to drink lots of caffeine containing beverages.While these foods are convenient, and may taste good, they can easily have a negative effect on your ability to study and take exams effectively. The reason being they are quickly digested, producing an elevation in blood glucose, and a boost in your energy level for a very short time. After that, the blood sugar level may drop below normal, causing undesirable effects. And while caffeine is a brain stimulant, and often used by students to stay awake, it decreases the blood flow to your brain. Thus it may have a bad effect on your ability to concentrate. In order to supply your brain with a steady flow of glucose, you need to eat three meals, breakfast, lunch, and supper including snacks between meals.Some of the foods that are good for feeding your brain, are in the graphic (above)These foods should be included in your family meals on a daily basis and a selection of snacks can conveniently be made from them.Remember, in order for your child to perform well in the first part of the morning, breakfast is a must. Breakfast should consist of healthy nutritious foods and not sodas, biscuits or cakes.Ends

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