Episode Four
Eat What you Want When You Want
NUTRITION A Key to Neuroplasticity
Hello Welcome to Life Wide open
The place to live extraordinarily
Sounds liberating, doesn’t it?
Life with endless options on what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat.
Sounds like paradise!
It is possible!
Here’s the secret
It’s all about healthy, delicious nutrition suited to your lifestyle, personal situation, metabolism, beliefs and culture. Investigate what works, it is a worthwhile endeavour.
Before I continue here is this week’s Brief NeuroScience Blast
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Brief Neuroscience blast
Healthy nutrition is essential to a healthy life. It influences the mental, emotional and physical areas of our lives. When it comes to our brain and neuroplasticity, omega 3s and vitamins win the day! They are an essential requirement for normal, everyday brain and body functions.
Here’s why
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and rewire its structure. Neurogenesis is the growth of new neurons (nerve cells). These two brain functions have a lifelong partnership. New neurons aid the brain to rewire itself. As well, the new neurons are standing ready to create new neural pathways. The ones that help us adapt to new thoughts, emotions and actions.
Omega 3s play at least two specific roles in Neurogenesis.
One: they keep cell membranes fluid providing a stable signal within cells. It’s also important in binding the chemical messengers which transmit and receive information between cells.
Two: They impact the growth rate of BDNF Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that ensures the development and survival of neurons ~ critical for neuroplasticity. It strengthens our ability to change an annoying habit or learn a new skill.
An excellent food source for Omega 3s is salmon, mackerel, chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and soybeans. Even one meal of salmon per week is adequate for increasing omega 3s in one’s diet.
Vitamins help overall with optimizing brain and body functions. Of particular note, Vitamin D plays an important role in optimizing Neuroplasticity. It helps in the production of new neurons, the same as Omega 3s. Salmon, eggs and fortified foods are good sources of vitamin D. One vitamin of many that nourish our minds. Getting out in the sun also promotes the production of Vit D.
Aspire to shift your thoughts, emotions and actions to more effective ones? Boost your Neuroplasticity through healthy nutrition; ensure Omega 3s and Vitamin D are involved regularly.
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In a nutshell HA Nutshell good analogy for a nutrition topic!
I digress!
Consider three things as you aspire to get the best from your neuroplasticity
1. Talk to a professional nutritionist if you’re not sure where to start. Together you can determine what to eat when to eat and how much to eat. If that’s not an option, consider Canada’s Food Guide. It’s updated and full of good information.
2. Eat fat, carbohydrates and protein daily. Your body and brain require these nutrients to perform everyday functions.
3. The moment you have a handle on what works repeat this:
“I eat what I want when I want.”
When you repeat a motto like this you’re using the powerhouse of neuroplasticity. Twice Over! Once for associating this with healthy eating habits and once for making eating joyful! Two neural pathways for the price of one.
Healthy nutrition enhances neuroplasticity overall repeating this motto forms a strong and well-developed neural pathway. One that creates a strong connection between the joy of eating and healthy, delicious nutrition. And you enhance your neuroplasticity and create the thoughts, emotions and actions that make your life more effective.
Sounds like your own personal paradise!
Eat what you want, when you want!
Make it Healthy!
Until we meet in Person.
Brain to Brain.
Heart to Heart.
Ciao!
Barb Earle
Join me next week for my next NeuroScience Pearl. We’ll Explore yet another physical key to enhancing neuroplasticity.
Get Smart ~ Sleep!
Cheers to healthy smoothies which enriches the health and energy in my body and Which enriches neurogenesis for my brain.
Suddenly I feel smarter