A lot of my patients come to me with symptoms like foggy thinking, brain fog, memory lapses and trouble concentrating. They feel like they’re losing their minds and don’t know who they are anymore. So here are some tips to help increase brain power and overall function of the brain.
Among other things, the brain requires glucose to function, so it is important to keep glucose levels stable. If we experience spikes and crashes in glucose, cortisol will step in to convert stored protein into glucose to make sure our brains don’t experience starvation and can continue to function properly. However, overproduction of cortisol can lead to imbalances among other hormones like progesterone. So it is best to keep glucose stable by avoiding too many starchy or sugary foods and eating small meals high in protein every 2-3 hours.
Another way to support healthy function of the brain is to consume healthy fats like DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. Overall fitness keeps the brain in good shape as well and reduces risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
l-carnitine, a nutrient used to sustain energy production and found chiefly in red meat, has also been found to improve brain function. Just remember to stick with a lean red meat, and if you can, go for grass-fed beef as it has less saturated fat.
Tags: brain function, Exercise, Omega-3
