You probably associate vitamin D with bone health, but that’s just a fraction of the picture. There are receptor sites for this vitamin throughout the brain and deficiency is associated with a range of neurological disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, dementia (including Alzheimer’s) and Parkinson’s disease.
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Most people practise intermittent fasting in order to lose weight, and it is indeed an effective strategy. Less well known are the neurological benefits, which include improved mood and memory, and reduced risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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Your cholesterol dependency begins before you are born. There is rapid accumulation in the brain of this substance during the last three months of pregnancy. After birth, the brain continues to grow at quite a pace, requiring a large and constant supply of cholesterol. This much-maligned yet essential substance is found in all body tissues. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to make vitamin D, or your sex hormones. As far as the brain is concerned, cholesterol has four main functions, as outlined in this article.
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Sometimes you crave the very foods that are making you ill. These foods can mess with your mind, as well as your body. Of all potential food felons, there’s nothing quite like gluten. This protein can trigger a broad range of symptoms and conditions, from gastrointestinal pain to schizophrenia, from depression to fatigue.
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Human babies are the only land mammals born fat, and there is good reason for that. When humans evolved from plant-eating tree-dwellers to omnivorous land-dwellers, an extraordinary burst of brain growth was triggered. The large human brain is dependent on fat for growth and function, from conception to old age.
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Vitamin D is usually associated with bone health, but it also plays an important role in brain development — there are receptor sites for this vitamin throughout the brain. A whole spectrum of neurological disorders have been linked to lack of vitamin D, including depression.
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The bacteria in your gut can profoundly affect the way you feel and the way you respond to stress. This ‘gut-brain’ is able to communicate with the head-brain along the vagus nerve. If you want your brain to work well, feed your bacteria well.
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Although diet plays a crucial role in the normal functioning of the brain, it is often overlooked as a major cause of depression, despite all the evidence. This article describes how certain nutrient deficiencies can lead to depression. Find out how to ensure you are eating the right foods for a healthy brain.
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