Essential Nutrients in Cognitive Performance in Aging Adults
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Posted On :
Jan-12-2012
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Article Word Count :
532
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Certain nutrients are essential for your cognitive performance. Read on to know how you suffice the lacking nutrients in your regular diet. Also find out which kinds of food do you need to avoid to keep up your mental health.
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Recent studies suggest that there is a definite link between vitamins and cognitive performance in maturing adults. The evidence underlines that getting sufficient amounts of key nutrients boosts thinking and memory skills as people get older. If you take a healthy diet, be active and keep your brain sharp, it will perform as a memory booster for you.
However, for most of working population today, it is just not possible to take a balanced diet every time. Many a time, they’ve to depend on junk food to fill up and join work again. People who travel and dine out a lot can certainly benefit from taking supplements to prevent nutrient deficiencies, and boost memory and mental alertness.
Foods high in antioxidants can slow down age-related loss of memory. Antioxidants are chemicals that eliminate so-called free radicals that cause cell deterioration. Apples, berries, cherries, grapes, raisins, prunes, and also dark-green leafy greens like spinach are good sources of antioxidants. Foods that are high on Omega-3 fatty acids can also provide similar benefits. Such foods include seafood, walnuts and flax seed oil. Complex carbohydrates that are there in whole grain breads, dried fruits, dried beans, peanuts and oat bran cereal, are also useful in maintaining mental alertness.
Ginkgo Biloba is believed to have nootropic properties, improving memory by increasing blood circulation to the brain, offering protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals, and blocking several effects of platelet-activating factor. Selenium, a mineral found in grains, garlic, seafood and some nuts is also considered memory enhancer.
Supply of B vitamins especially B6, B12 and Folic Acid (B9) is essential for keeping the brain healthy. These vitamins are available through a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, except for B12, that is only found in animal products. Taking adequate supplements can help prevent related deficiencies.
Some food items are detrimental for your brains as well. A diet high on Hydrogenated vegetable oils, the so-called trans fats, can shrink the brain. Polyunsaturated fats, which can cause chronic inflammation in the brain tissue, are also harmful to the blood vessels. Sunflower and corn oils have these fats, so it is better you keep away from the processed food, which has such fats.
Excessive sugar also affects the brain negatively. It leads to insulin resistance, that imbalances the glucose level in the blood. Simple carbohydrates like refined baked goods, white rice and pasta as well as processed foods like sodas are typical sources of sugar. It is also advisable to use white potatoes sparingly for the same reasons.
However, as previously said, it is not always possible for everyone to take care of what they eat. In such case, it is better to take supplements that can fill in for the nutrients and act as a memory booster. Such supplements can help sustain the supply of essential nutrients to the brain, keeping you in top mental alertness.
It does not mean at all that such supplements can replace the requirement of a balanced diet. Yet, they can substitute for the lack of nutrients in the regular diet, taking care of your brain.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Essential Nutrients in Cognitive Performance in Aging Adults_132804.aspx
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Author Resource :
Author of this article is associated with Awake Energy Bullets. Natural Energy Bullets produced by them bring mental alertness and sharpen the memory.
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Keywords :
Mental alertness, Memory Booster,
Category :
Health and Fitness
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Nutrition
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