Brain food

food for thought

Author

Moo Garden
February 21, 2023

How can we feed our brains? Here is some food for thought.

  • People who consume a diet low in fats and especially low in cholesterol are at risk for depression and suicide. Fatty acids play an important role in higher brain functions that control moods. (https://bridgechiro.com/nutrition/risks-of-eating-a-low-fat-diet)

  • The brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ in the body, and depriving the brain of essential fatty acids and cholesterol can lead to detrimental health problems. Lower levels of cholesterol in the blood are associated with a heightened risk of developing major depressive disorder, as well as an increased risk of death from suicide. (https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/articles-1/2015/11/13/the-implications-of-low-cholesterol-in-depression-and-suicide)

  • Weighing about 3 pounds in the average adult, the brain is about 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org)

  • …long-term exposure to high-fat diet selectively and robustly protects against some of the behavioral sequelae of chronic unpredictable social stressors.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452211007822?via%3Dihub)

  • There is a growing amount of research looking at the use of essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3's in psychiatry, but we often overlook cholesterol. Low le.vels of cholesterol and essential fatty acids are intimately linked to depression. (https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/articles-1/2015/11/13/the-implications-of-low-cholesterol-in-depression-and-suicide)

  • DHA is an ancient molecule so useful to us and our fellow vertebrates (creatures with backbones) that it has remained unchanged for more than 500 million years of evolution. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201903/the-brain-needs-animal-fat?)

  • DHA participates in the formation of myelin, the white matter that insulates our brain circuits. It also helps maintain the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, which keeps the brain safe from unwanted outside influences.  (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201903/the-brain-needs-animal-fat?)

  • DHA’s special configuration lends it unique quantum mechanical properties that allow it to buffer electron flow. Plants don’t have it, because plants don’t need it. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201903/the-brain-needs-animal-fat?)

  • For those who choose vegan diets, it is important to know that plant foods contain no DHA. The omega-3 fatty acid found in plant foods like flax, walnut, and chia is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Unfortunately, it appears to be rather difficult for the adult human body to make DHA out of ALA, with most studies finding a conversion rate of less than 10 percent: or even zero conversion.  (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201903/the-brain-needs-animal-fat?)

  • Perhaps most importantly, DHA is critical to the development of the human cortex—the part of the brain responsible for higher-order thinking. Without DHA, the highly sophisticated connections necessary for sustained attention, decision-making, and complex problem-solving do not form properly. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201903/the-brain-needs-animal-fat?)

animal-sourced DHA

click on the link below for an interesting conversation on mental health and diet with Dr Georgia Ede and Dr Ken Berry

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgL1vlasrxU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>

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