THE "MOM BRAIN" MENU
Feel Like Yourself Again
SAMPLE MENU
BRAIN FUEL FRUIT BOWL
With this mixture of fresh, antioxidant and flavonoid rich berries, you'll be contributing to your brain health by reducing neurological inflammation. Anthocyanins, naturally occurring polyphenols found in fruits and veggies, exhibit a significant neuroprotective role, mostly due to their well-recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have linked anthocyanins and their metabolites with decreased risk of development of several neurological disorders.  Meanwhile, flavonoids protect neurons against injury induced by neurotoxins, have an ability to suppress neuroinflammation, and have the potential to promote memory, learning and cognitive function.
GETTING YOURSELF BACK GREEN SALAD
Vitamin E, or α-tocopherol, has been shown to improve cognitive performance, as increased levels of vitamin E in the blood was associated with better memory performance. Vitamin E is abundant in green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils and, when added to our diet, improve neurological performance. These effects are likely to be related to the ability of antioxidants to support synaptic plasticity (a fancy term for how well our mental messengers work together). Green, leafy vegetables are also rich in vitamin K, which participates in the nervous system through its involvement in fat metabolism, its anti-inflammatory activity and protection against oxidative stress.
OM(EGA-3)G, I'M FEELIN' GOOD GO-TO
Omega-3 fatty acids, naturally found in fatty fish, nuts and seeds, are essential when it comes to improving cognitive function because they exhibit neuroprotective properties and represent a potential treatment for a variety of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders! Studies have shown that adequate consumption of omega-3s is associated with higher levels of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmission, less neurocognitive deficits and reduced behavioral indices of anxiety, aggression, and depression.
BRAIN JUICE
Who doesn't need a little brain juice?? Ingredients like strawberries and spinach are some of the most antioxidant-rich foods with extremely high flavonoid content, which recent research has suggested may be of special importance in alleviating cognitive impairments. Recent studies have shown that a diet supplemented with spinach and strawberries was capable of delaying the small, but measureable decrement in neurological function that occurred in intact study subjects! In addition, consumption of soybean products may not only improve memory but also reverse any possible memory deficits.
