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Home › Articles › Nutrition News › Brain Food

Brain Food

What You Eat Affects How You Think

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

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"Supplements can be taken for improved memory and better concentration," says Stoler. "The best known and proven include choline, folic acid, L-Carnitine, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), phosphatidyl serine, B1, B12 and zinc. In addition, some herbs to consider include bacopa extract, club moss (Huperzine A), gingko biloba and vinpocetine. If you have any questions regarding when, how much, where, etc., in regards to any of these supplements, talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to help you find the right supplement for you that will include one that won't interfere with any meds you may currently be taking."

Old wives' tales about the miracle powers of vitamins abound. Well, it's turning out that a lot of the old wives' tales are true. Although people didn't understand how or why certain foods, such as fish, are good for the brain, these ideas became part of our common wisdom. But the latest research has demonstrated that vitamins can, in fact, increase brain power.

"Mom's stories about brain food do have a basis in fact," says Stoler. "Fish, for example, is packed with compounds that help promote optimal mental functioning. The problem is, the most concentrated sources of brain nutrients are found in foods that most Americans have reduced or eliminated from their daily diets, like red meats, organ meats and eggs. I guess we can say that we are finding the answers and results by going back to the beginning."

Brain Power Tips

Diane Roberts Stoler, Ed.D., licensed psychologist and author of Coping With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Avery Penguin Putnam, 1998), offers the following nutrition tips to maximize your brain power.

  • Sugar and artificial sweeteners should be avoided (especially by those prone to or with a history of migraines), as they can cause mental fatigue due to headaches.
  • Pasta before exams or meetings will slow the mental process. Pasta is a complex carbohydrate and takes a lot of energy to digest. So since the blood flow is directed to the digestive track to aid digestion, it is taken away from the brain.
  • Alcohol, such as beer and wine, hinders important decision-making. This seems obvious, but teenage drinking and drug use is up. Alcohol clouds judgment and the ability to adequately problem-solve.
  • Food that can be made into alcohol, such as rice, potato, corn, etc., are best not to digest before taking tests or exams or making important decisions for many of the same reasons as stated above.

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