How to Protect your Brain with the Food “YOU” Eat

There is No Denying that from the Time you were Born, your Body began to AGE

Research has Shown that you will increase your chances of Being Active, Full of Vitality,  Maintain the Health of Your Brain right through to Old Age

By Following Healthy Food Choices and Positive Lifestyle Habits and Activities. Sounds like a plan, the way to go.

It is interesting that Fresh Foods are now being classed as Super Foods

By including these Super foods into your daily eating plan,  this will not only keep your brain healthy and active. It will also give your body the support needed to prevent pain, ill health and disease. Therefore enabling you to be active for you whole life doing the things you love.

Why Superfoods?

When I was growing up it was just called eating your vegies and there was never any argument, you just ate them because they were good for you, helping you to grow big and strong. (well it wasn’t so much back then on the big meaning fat but growing into the size you should be for you age, height etc

But now with dilemma we have with obesity with the “Junk Food Industry” basically creating an epidemic of serious health concerns because we are not getting the nutrition that our bodies need to not only function effectively so as to fight ill health and disease, but for our bodies to be able to utilize the food we eat so as to work effectively. When we fuel our bodies with these “Superfoods” which are basically foods that come directly from nature, yes even cows, sheep, chickens are born directly from nature as well as our plant vegetables, grains, fruits and seeds.
But of course in our world full of “Grand Excitement” everyday it would seem rather boring to mention eating your greens, fruit and vegetables. As this has been tried and tested with limited success. So now in order to compete with these industries that are bringing us mere humans to a terrible demise we are now calling them “Superfoods” Plus the nutritional companies are getting in there to package these foods as they see an opening in the market. Bit cynical I guess so, look I must say I do include some of the packaged “Superfoods” into our daily eating regime. However this can be limited by just eating real foods for breakfast, lunch and tea.

What are these Superfoods and How they will Help YOU

1. Onions, Garlic, Chives, Leeks, Shallots and Scallions – these wonderful condiments contain flavonoids that stimulate the production of glutathione (the tripeptide that is the liver’s most potent antioxidant). Glutathione enhances elimination of toxins and carcinogens, putting the allium family of vegetables at the top of the list for foods that can help prevent cancer Garlic is on the top of the list as it:
• Lowers total cholesterol (but raises HDL—”good”—cholesterol)
• Lessens the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces the risk of blood clots (cause of the majority of strokes and heart attacks)
• Destroys infection-causing viruses and bacteria
• Reduces the risk of certain cancers, in particular, stomach cancers
• Produces more “natural killer” cells in the blood to fight tumors and infections
• Helps fight against neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s
• Enhances detoxification by reducing toxins
For optimum effect, eat garlic raw. Cooking can destroy some of the allicin compound, which is the active constituent.
Hint: your fresh clove of garlic can be cut into small pieces that you can swallow and this is you garlic tablet also odourless free as you are not chewing it.

2. Chia Seeds
If you are looking for a green smoothie staple then you have come to the right place. These do-it-all super-seeds are good for your head with their high content of omega fatty acids that increase healthy brain function, but have also proven to be good for your heart by fighting high cholesterol and heart disease. They even boast a wide variety of nutrients, such as: protein, fibre, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, calcium and antioxidants. Use up to three tablespoons of chia seeds in your smoothie for a thick consistency and a mildly sweet flavour

3. Kale
Kale is an inexpensive cruciferous vegetable that can help ease lung congestion, and is beneficial to your stomach, liver, and immune system. It’s an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, Chlorophyll, Iron, Calcium, Lutein which protects against macular degeneration, In dole which helps to protect against Colon cancer.
4. Yoghurt – Natural Greek or Organic (Probiotics): Helps maintain healthy gut flora, maintaining healthy digestive microbes needed for healthy digestion and metabolizing of your food.

5. Raw or Roasted Almonds: These are not healthy for you but make great easy snacks during the day add a red apple to the combination will assist with a healthy bowel, help regulate cholesterol, great source of vitamins and minerals especially for bone health and preventing age onset osteoporosis, benefit heart and immune responses. Assist with healthy brain function also act as a pre probiotic preparing your gastro intestinal track for your next meal. Your Brain relies on good fats to function effectively some of these include:
Olives, organic virgin olive oil and coconut oil, nuts like almonds as mentioned also walnuts, pecans and macadamia, free-range eggs, wild Alaskan salmon, plus avocado

6. Porridge: Plain Rolled oats nothing is cheaper and gives you such great health benefits:
The complex carbohydrates found in porridge are macro nutrients needed for optimal brain function and energy through the course of the day. A great source of Iron is used for the production of myoglobin and hemoglobin, which join forces with red blood cells to carry oxygen to the muscles and all other areas of the body. Other nutrients that the humble porridge provides are calcium, vitamin A therefore immune boosting, high in phosphorous is great for muscle recovery and being a wholefood is great for appetite suppression.

7. Chillies, Capsicum – (raw have twice as much vitamin c as an orange) Great for immune support, pain control, help to reduce the risk of cataracts, as they are high in antioxidant properties; they help with healthy skin and tissue repair.

8. Berries – Yes blueberries, blackberries, strawberries – We used to pick these as a family event when we went for a picnic in the hills, bring them back what didn’t get eaten, was made into jam or frozen. Help with preventing cell damage and assist with healthy cell regeneration, brain function, and healthy skin, basically helps to stop us wearing out before our time.

9. Sardines – You may be surprised to find out that ounce-for-ounce sardines contain just as much heart-healthy omega-3 fat (http://www.joybauer.com/food-articles/omega-3-fatty-acids.aspx) as salmon! Not to mention that they’re extremely low in contaminants, Eco-friendly (so no need to worry about overfishing), packed with high-quality protein, and super affordable

10. Sweet Potatoes – High Vitamin & mineral resource these include vitamins B, iron and vitamin D. These are great mashed or baked an easy addition to the evening meal.

11. Broccoli – Recent tests on cells, tissues and mice show that a sulfur-rich broccoli compound, sulforaphane, blocks a key destructive enzyme that damages cartilage.1 It’s thought that increasing broccoli in your diet may help to slow down and even prevent osteoarthritis, cancer, supports healthy blood pressure, immune heart and kidney function:

12. Basil- This wonderful aromatic herb along with many of your other herbs assist firstly with healthy digestion of the meal that you are eating, Includes vitamins A, K and Beta carotene along with powerful antioxidant properties, restricts the growth of numerous harmful bacteria in the gut has anti-inflammatory properties to help with arthritic conditions. This is a wonderful herb best eaten raw either added to salads, sandwiches, or just stirred through after cooking your stir fries or pasta dishes.

 Food is Your Body’s  Fuel – About Pre and Post Workout Nutrition. Exercise and a healthy diet go hand in hand. So a question often asked is – What are the “Best Foods”  to Eat Before or After a workout or exercise program.

The very  Foundation to your Health, Vitality and Prevention of Disease

Giving you Every Opportunity  to Live your Life Fully Your Whole Life

Empowering you to Optimal Health     Julie Doherty N.D