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Article Series: Health Living & Weight Loss
Live Healthy. Eat Healthy. Be Healthy.
Optimize
Your Body and Mind With These 5 Healthy Foods
Everyone has heard the expression, "You
are what you eat." This very simple saying means more
and more each day as we gain a greater understanding about
how foods affect us.
- The
food you put into your body has an effect on your physical
appearance, energy levels, bodily processes and how well
your brain functions.
Your brain is a system of chemical connections firing off
at each other so fast that it's almost impossible to fathom.
Well, the food you eat affects the chemical make up of your
brain, altering how it acts and works.
Feelings and emotions also affect your brain. Obviously feelings
are born in the brain, and, depending on the emotion, they
can alter the brain chemistry. For example, some people with
mental health issues do not produce certain chemicals in their
brain, which radically changes their behavior patterns.
There are things you can do to regulate this chemical reaction
on a daily basis, and it's simpler than you may think! Eating
certain foods can specifically affect different functions of
the body, the chemicals in your brain, and your emotions.
Here are some healthy foods you can eat to help optimize both
your body and mind:
1.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Eating foods high in Omega-3s has
a great deal of health benefits, including improving your brain's
development and functions. The Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is
an important polyunsaturated fat found in the brain.
- Fish
is a great source of Omega-3 Fatty acids, including DHA.
Note:
I take 1 teaspoon of Carlson's Very Finest Fish Oil (lemon
flavor) 3-4 times per week.
2.
Choline. Choline is a chemical building block of every
cell in your body. Choline has also been shown to help with
retaining information in your memory. The more choline your
lifetime diet includes, the less likely you'll be to face extreme
memory loss as you grow older.
- Eggs
yolks have a high concentration of choline in them.
3.
Antioxidants. We all recognize the health
benefits of antioxidants in fighting diseases, but did you
know a cup of hot cocoa has
a higher concentration of antioxidants in it than either red
wine or green tea? It's true as long as you use a
dark chocolate.
- Serve a cup of rich dark hot cocoa after dinner, and know
you're actually taking good care of your health!
4.
Green Tea. Have a glass of green tea every day to help
keep the cognitive functions of your brain in tiptop shape.
Studies have shown 70% of people who drank green tea showed
an improvement in the functions of the brain.
5.
Cranberry Juice. This beverage is not only good for your
body, specifically, kidney and urinary functions, but it can
also help prevent a stroke. Cranberry juice has also been shown
to help reduce brain cell damage after a stroke.
Note: I personally drink 8oz of Pomegranate juice daily (POM Wonderful).
Eating a well balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables,
protein, and some fat is the best way to nourish both the body
and mind. Our bodies are highly complicated machines requiring
many different things to function properly, and what we eat
determines how it functions.
By taking simple steps to optimize your nutrition, you'll
also optimize your mind and body. Start making healthy, nutritious
food choices today and enjoy looking, feeling, and thinking
better. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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