Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Brain Health And Raw Food

Eat, Think, And Be Healthy - Raw Food The Optimal Brain Food

I decided to tackle the topic of food versus raw foods and the impact it has on brain health and function. I believe this article will provide a very strong argument for reconsidering the way you and your family eat. Hopefully you will think twice before allowing you or your family the option of eating foods that are processed, or include refined flours and sugars, GMO foods, MSG, sodas, deep fried foods, and so forth - you get the point! These foods are not only poison to the blood, poison to the gut, poison to the body - they are SIGNIFICANTLY POISONOUS TO THE BRAIN!

Please understand my intention is not to make you feel guilty for what you have been eating or what you have been feeding your family. However, it is my intent to make you very aware of the information that is out there to help you make better choices so that you may protect yourself and your family from any undue harm, and to create a more fulfilling life abundant in good health and well-being.

For thousands of years, Oriental philosophers have studied the effects of food on the mind. Based on the research that I found, the concept of certain foods creating certain moods really makes sense to me when I apply it to my own reality.

Pure foods, consisting primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables were considered calming, producing clarity and tranquility within the mind.

Stimulating foods consisting of spices, meat, onions and such create animalistic behaviors such as restlessness and an unsatisfied mind. These are direct causes of emotional outbreaks, and anxiety disorders.

Impure foods consisting of processed, preserved, or putrefied foods are known to decrease thinking, and dull the senses, as well as contribute to chronic mental disorders and illnesses. Plus, these types of foods directly accelerate the aging process.

Although these are just studies and many people may disregard these claims, if you truly analyze it, these examples fit pretty closely to how a lot of people live and act.

Face it, what you eat affects all parts of your being - physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, ethically, physiologically - "You are what you eat!"

More examples of how the food we eat can affect your brain:

Many people knowingly and unknowingly suffer from food allergies, such as wheat products. Wheat has been known to cause aggressive behaviors and emotional outbursts.

Eating foods high in fat will dull the mind and cloud thinking. This is because fat digestion is so demanding on the body that much of the body's blood is diverted away from the brain to the digestion, resulting in slower processing of thoughts, as well as mild depression. So obviously, if someone is eating an extreme diet high in fats, the effects on the brain will be much more dramatic and damaging - with the possibility of complete personality transformations, and mental breakdowns.

The brain basically competes with the heart, liver, muscles, lungs, and fat cells for blood sugar (known as glucose). This is considered a simple sugar which causes too much insulin to be released into the blood stream, resulting in low blood sugar. This can lead to hypoglycemia, which can and will damage the brain if not properly treated.

Consuming white sugar will deplete the body of B-vitamins. B-vitamins are important for preventing nervousness and mental depression. Most people who suffer from anxiety and mental disorders usually are deficient in B-vitamins. White sugar has been linked to emotional outbreaks from children, especially with adolescents. This is mostly in part because of the large consumption of sodas and candy consumed on a regular basis by the average child. Long-term sugar consumption can lead to serious and chronic blood-sugar problems, which could manifest as diabetes or hypoglycemia. Or even, depression, irritability, and severe anxiety. SUGAR KILLS!

Foods that are cooked (specifically over-cooked) or preserved with additives and chemicals are considered poison to the body, as these foods saturate the bloodstream with toxins that directly interfere with brain function.

Mental and emotional health is a direct result of the nutritional balance of the body. If foods that are low in nutrition, or high in toxins are consumed, than mental and emotional health declines rapidly. If foods high in nutrients are consumed, than mental and emotional health greatly improves. It's as simple as that!

I'm sure many of you are aware of the serious dangers to be had from the consumption of aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Most processed foods, including sodas, gum, and many packaged dried foods include these ingredients. These additives or flavor enhancers include a substance called ex-ci-to-tox-in. This substance purposely stimulates neurons to the death, resulting in various degrees of brain damage, or harm to the brain and nervous system, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), and others. THIS KILLS!

While alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are truly killers too - we must remember that these items are regulated, and there are laws to force people to take responsibility when making choices to indulge in these things. However, there is no protection or accountability for the FOOD WE EAT. There are no campaigns or legal actions to prevent families from feeding their children and themselves greasy fast-food burgers, or sodas by the case full, over indulging in large amounts of "non" foods. Even our pets are subjected to this unhealthy way of living, by feeding them table scraps, or processed pet foods. In fact, as long as there is FDA approval for these things, and cultural acceptance due to complacency or ignorance, our species will continue to grow sicker and fatter - It wouldn't surprise me if we became extinct!

Have you taken notice on how there are more and more cases of physiological disorders in children and adolescents then ever before. We suffer from ADHD, ADD, OCD, depression, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, bi-polar%u2026the list goes on! It can all be directly linked to what they eat, and how they are encouraged to live their life.

It's time to TAKE ACTION, and start taking care of our health by taking responsibility for what we put in our bodies.

Foods that heal and feed the brain:

The more raw food you include in your diet, and the less process foods you consume, the healthier your body and your brain will feel. Since mental illness is usually caused from a severe hormonal and chemical imbalance in the brain, consuming animal flesh is not a good choice for brain health. Animal flesh is pumped with hormones, pesticides, and causes high levels of acidity which causes these hormonal imbalances. Eating a high raw and organic diet will eliminate these issues, and regulate body chemistry for a healthier mind.

Not only does the body create waste, but so does the brain. Toxins and excess fat contribute to impaired brain function, causing the brain cells to accumulate cellular garbage or "lipofuscin", which is a by-product of fats and toxins. This brain garbage will kill and damage the neurons in your brain leading to serious brain damage. Raw and living foods place little or no toxic matter in the body, helping in the prevention of oxidation in the brain, and decreasing or eliminating this type of brain garbage from occurring.

The brain needs foods rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc for proper functioning. Other nutrients to consider include trace minerals, including Chromium and Selenium. Phosphorous, manganese, inosital, boron, B vitamins (including folic acid), bioflavonoids, phytochemicals, and antioxidants are also all very important to proper brain function and health.

Did you know that magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body? Increasing magnesium intake is beneficial for all functions of the body. Good sources of magnesium include pumpkin, flax, sesame, and other seeds, almonds, Brazil nuts, leafy greens, avocados, bananas, and kelp. Also, raw cacao is also considered a very good source of magnesium - "Let's hear it for chocolate!"

Some of the best brain food can be found within raw nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and other varieties are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals all essential for proper brain function. Flax seed helps reduce hyperactivity, and improves mental focus, which is a result of the great amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Fresh fruit provides the best type of glucose for the bloodstream that the brain needs to function properly. Grapes provide the blood with readily-assimilated natural sugars and minerals that are conducive to mental activity. Blue berries and goji berries are rich in antioxidants improving mental clarity.

The brain also needs natural sodium for optimal health. Spinach and celery are one of the best providers of this sodium. In fact, dark leafy greens and seaweeds are the most nutrient rich foods for healing and maintaining a healthy brain, and emotional stability. They alkalize the body, automatically creating conditions for more power and positive thinking.

In summary, the key to a healthy brain is to eliminate all processed foods from the diet. The more fresh, raw and living foods that you consume, the healthier the body, mind, and spirit. In addition, get plenty of rest, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and good brain stimulation (the brain can atrophy just like a muscle can), and your end result will be a healthy, happy brain!

Think happy, think healthy!

Recommended reading: - Nutrition Mind and the Emotions -Mental Ability and Mental Health Through The Raw Food Diet - Feeding Your Brain (Part 1 - 5)

Is Your Child's Brain Starving?, written by Dr. Michael R Lyon and Dr. Christine Laurell

Green For Life, written by Victoria Boutenko

Reprinted from an e-newsletter written by Debbie Marsh, Raw-Riffic Food. All rights reserved 2009©

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