Delicious brain foods to give your energy, help you learn, think and move. By Philippa Norman MD, MPH
1. Quick! Think Avocado! Avocados are smooth and creamy because of their fat content. They are rich in a fatty acid called oleic acid, which helps to build the coating of insulation, known as myelin (found in white matter of the brain.) Myelin helps information travel at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Oleic acid makes up over a third of the fat in myelin. Thus, avocados (and other sources like olives, almonds and pecans) are helpful for speedy messaging within your brain.
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Eggs: Don't Skip Over Easy Source of Good Fat Cholesterol - is it a bad fat or a good fat? Without a doubt, cholesterol is "good" for brain health. Cholesterol supports the membranes of neurons, helping them to keep their shape. Cholesterol also is a building block for hormones that influence brain function. Eggs also contain DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that helps to form connections between neurons.
What if you don't eat eggs? You do not need to eat eggs to get cholesterol, since your body makes it. You can get DHA from dark leafy greens and blue-green algae.Otherwise, you can enjoy a few eggs a week for an easy source of good fat.
6. Flax to the Max Flax seeds are rich in brain-healthy fats. Fatty acids are known by their "families" in which different forms of fatty acids may be changed or converted. Flax seeds contain ALA of the omega 3 family. It is used to form EPA and DHA, 2 other omega-3 fatty acids that are directly used by the brain to build and protect neurons. Flax seeds also contain GLA, a fatty acid from the omega-6 family. It can help form another omega-6 fatty acid called AA. Omega-6 fats are used to build healthy neurons and also to regulate the environment of the