How Does Food Affect The Brain?

Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about How Does Food Affect The Brain?. Eating a variety of foods is a key factor in brain health..

The brain contains mainly fat ( lipids ), less protein ( protein ), and amino acids, and among circulating therein substances most are glucose and micronutrients . Each of these components plays an important role in brain function and development and is crucial for energy and mood levels for the body and mind.

Experiencing sensations such as fatigue and apathy in the afternoon or a midnight surge of energy and excitement can be a direct result of the effect of food intake on the brain.

Of the fats available in the brain, the most well-known are the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 . These fats are essential for the body and should be taken with food. Consumption of nuts , seeds , oily fish and other foods rich in omega-3 is essential for the synthesis and maintenance of cell membranes in the brain. However, other fats such as polyunsaturated and trans fats, taken for a long time and in large doses, lead to damage to brain tissue and function.

Proteins and amino acids taken with food also affect the brain and determine how a person feels and reacts . Amino acids are important for building neurotransmitters - chemical signals that carry information between neurons. They strongly affect mood , sleep , attention and weight . They are one of the reasons why a person feels calm and relaxed after eating spaghetti (rich in carbohydrates) or to feel more aroused and fresh after eating meat (rich in protein).

Different combinations of substances in food can stimulate the brain to produce norepinephrine , serotonin and dopamine - molecules that change brain activity and mood. A varied diet ensures a balanced production of brain neurochemicals and protects against mood extremes - severe hyperactivity or depression.

The brain is also strongly influenced by antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, they protect it from free radicals, which severely damage nerve tissue and destroy brain cells.

Although the brain is only 2% of body weight, it consumes about 20% of body energy. Most of the energy comes from carbohydrates , which the body breaks down into glucose (blood sugar).

Carbohydrate foods are of 3 types: sugars , starch and fiber . Most products whose food content is labeled combine all three types into one common indicator without explanation. This is not right in view of the fact that the ratio of each type of carbohydrate to the total carbohydrate mass of the food directly affects the brain.

Foods that contain mostly starch and sugars , such as white bread, lead to a rapid and strong release of glucose into the blood. Soon after, however, blood sugar drops rapidly, and it greatly reduces mood , mental abilities and the ability to concentrate . On the other hand, richer in fiber oats, grains and legumes lead to a slower, prolonged release of glucose into the blood, which maintains normal concentration and nervous activity.

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How Does Food Affect The Brain?

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