Brain of a six month old.
I have been reading Dharma Singh Khalsa's Brain Longevity book. In addition to inspiring my yoga practice it has also influenced my eating habits. According to Khalsa "A substandard diet is the number-two preventable cause of death in America today, right after smoking. Smoking kills about 425, 000 people a year, and dietary mistakes kill at least 350, 000" (Khalsa 1997, 200). Khalsa's instructions for proper nutrition for your brain are relatively simple.
1. Eat a low fat diet.
2. Eat a nutrient dense diet. Empty calories stress your body in terms of digestions, assimilation, and elimination.
3. Avoid hypoglycemia. Don't let your blood sugars get too low. When your blood sugar is low, your brain functions poorly.
4. Eat a relatively low-calorie diet. Don't go hungry, but don't overeat.
5. Eat a balanced diet. That doesn't mean to eat from the "four basic food groups," rather eat a balance of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and non-animal based protein.
7. Eat real food. Not processed food. Not pesticied-poisoned food. Not embalmed food.
It probably won't surprise you that Dr. Khalsa recommends a vegetarian diet. "Adequate protein can be consumed without eating meat, and virtually all meat is high in fat. Even the leanest types of white chicken are much higher in fat than almost any other high-protein foods" (1997, 207).
The reasons that fat takes its toll on the brain are two fold. "Excessive consumption of fat impairs cerebal circulation by clogging arteries with 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (or LDL). LDL decreases the elasticity of the brain's blood vessels" (Khalsa 1997, 225).
"High fat intake also creates a huge number of free radicals, because fat oxidizes so quickly that if you pour oil into an open container, it will become infused with air in just a few seconds. This infusion of air (or oxidation) will quickly turn the oil rancid, and rancid oil contains some of the most destructive free radicals that exist. When free radicals from fat meet your neurons, they quicly damage the neurons, and begin to kill them" (Khalsa 1997, 225).
Now if that doesn't motivate you to improve your nutritional intake, I'm not sure what will!
I wish there was some way to make the people understand this who don't eat well. Some people are just so stubborn that they will eat whatever they want, and nothing will ever change their minds. Oh well, I am glad you shared it!
I'm okay with everything on this list but the fat . . . I probably use too much butter but I'll work on that.
No butter in tonight's dinner. Veggie chili!
That is some very interesting information. But I do have to ask isn't fish really good for your brain as well? Did he mention anything about that? Is it wrong to ask a vegetarian that?!?
Hey laura, yup I get really frustrated with it too, especially people who would rather have operation after operation and choose medical intervention over improving their lifestyle.
sleek- I think embalmed food is considered shelf food with a lot of synthetic chemicals. BTW, nothing wrong with a little butter. And, we do need some fat in our diets - just the good kind, not the kind that potatoes get dumped in for french fries.
Thanks vicki- good to see you back, missed ya!