Today we are going to talk about how you can help your brain!!!! As homeschooling mom's it is crucial that our brain stays 'fit' and it is our job to make sure that we give our children every opportunity to have the strongest brain possible!
•Do you think what your children eat today, will affect their academic success?
•Do you think that what your children eat today will affect their brain function as an adult?
In today's culture we are living on the move, everyone is living in the fast lane unless you are purposing to live your life differently.
So for most people, that means that you meals consist of drive through dining or out of the box meals. Both of these options, while sometimes affordable and quick. Your body is paying the ultimate consequence.
What do we need to consume in order to improve and maintain proper brain function?
•Fats
–Omega 3, Omega 6, and other fatty acids
•Carbohydrates
•Protein
•Vitamins
•Minerals
•Water
Compared to 100 years ago, Omega 3 (Essential Fatty Acid) is down 80%,
B vitamins are estimated to be down to about 50% of the daily requirement. Vitamin B6 consumption may be low as it is removed in grain milling and not replaced. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and E have also been lost in food processing. Minerals are depleted in a similar way. Fiber is down 75-80%. Antinutruients have increased substantially—saturated fat, 100%; cholesterol, 50%; refined sugar nearly 1000% salt up to 500% and funny fat isomers nearly 1,000%”. ~Dr Donaldo Rudin
Take away all the fluid out of your brain and you will find that 60% of its mass is fat. Most of that fat is composed of DHA. DHA is one of 2 beneficial long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. EPA is the other one, but it’s found in very low concentrations in the brain. The tissues that have the highest concentrations of DHA are the retina of the eye (essential for taking in visual information, the synapses that control the flow of neurotransmitters between nerve cells in the brain and the mitochondria in each brain nerve cell that provide the energy to keep those cells alive.
If DHA is deficient in any of these 3 critical brain components, your mental functioning suffers and your intelligence begins to fall.
We are eating less Omega-3 fatty acids now than ever before. Diets used to contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids at a ratio of approximately 1:1. Today’s ratio stands between 1:10 and 1:20-25 (Omega-3:Omega-6)
We are not getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids to grow a healthy brain. Corn and safflower oils provide most of our Omega-6 fatty acids, but it is Omega 3 fatty acid (DHA) and (EPA) that are critical in the development of brain tissue, forming the very membrane that encases each of the 10 trillion neurons in the brain.
To complicate matters, mass-produced animals don’t contain the same amount of Omega-3 acids that wild-raised animals contain. For example, farm-raised fish like salmon have a different balance of Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon that jump the waterfalls in icy-cold rivers and feast on natural foods.
WITHOUT A BALANCE OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS, DHA, AND EPA, THE BRAIN WILL BE INADEQUATELY DEVELOPED.
So what are some of the affects of Omega 3 deficiency?
- Depression
- ADD/ADHD
- Eating Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
•40% of 4th graders can’t read at a basic level.
•SAT scores have declined every year since 1980.
•It is said that it is difficult to assess how our kids are really doing in public schools, because the tests have been progressively “dumbed down”.
•For example, California lowered their standards by changing the tests and still the scores keep dropping.
Do you want your children to have more brain power?
Give them free-range eggs, Omega-3, good saturated fats from olives, Avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, non-processed butter (store bought butter has natural flavorings) meats that are grass fed and no steroids and antibiotics. Nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews and walnuts. Fish free of mercury, lead, PCB’s or dioxin.
I believe in whole foods over supplements. However…making sure that our children and my grandchildren are eating sufficient amounts of Omega 3’s I have found supplementation of this vital nutrient absolutely necessary.
Over the past 100 years, consumption of fresh produce has plummeted.
The USDA recommends 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
The average American eats less than 2 servings of both fruits and vegetables per day with a quarter of servings in the form of greasy, nutrient-dead french fries.
Ideally, 75% of your daily diet should include raw vegetables and fruits. Raw veggies and fruits can go beyond just veggie and fruit trays and salads. There are thousands of wonderful raw food recipes that can be found just on the internet.
Be careful of potatoes and carrots because they have a much higher GI.
Grapefruit, apples, cherries, oranges, and grapes have a low glycemic index.
FYI about whole fruit vs. fruit juice… the GI of whole fruit ranks lower than juices, because the FIBER in the fruit slows the absorption of the fructose or fruit sugar.
Building a Supernormal Brain
•Supplement diet with Omega-3 pure fish oil*
•Maintain an insulin controlled diet
–Low-glycemic sugar foods only
•30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise daily
•Anaerobic strength training 2 or 3 times a week
•Meditation / Prayer
* Dr. Sears actually advocated 5-10 grams of a pure pharmaceutical pure Omega-3 fish oil, but with a monthly blood test to check your AA/EPA ratio.
Bad Brain Foods
•Artificial food colorings & flavorings
•Artificial sweeteners
•Bleached flour
•Candy
•High fructose corn syrup
•Hydrogenated fats (trans fats)
•Snack foods
Good Brain Foods
• Avocados
•Bananas
•Lean Beef
•Brewer’s Yeast
•Broccoli
•Brown Rice
•Brussels Sprouts
•Cantaloupe
•Chicken
•Collard Greens
•Eggs
•Flaxseed Oil
•Legumes
•Oatmeal
•Oranges
•Almond Butter
•Cashew Butter
•Walnut butter
•Peas
•Romaine Lettuce
•Salmon
•Spinach
•Tuna
•Turkey
•Wheat Germ
•Yogurt
In addition to these nutrient dense foods, supplementation is highly recommended. Our family uses; Omega Blue and Ningxia Red. 
"Omega Blue provides a clinically proven dose of omega 3 fatty acids, which support heart, brain, eye and joint health. {Young Living's} Omega Enhance preservation system blends pure blue chamomile, lemongrass, and clove essential oils to increase shelf life and ensure freshness. "
NingXia Red are made with NingXia Wolfberries, which have been used for centuries for anti-aging, and health enhancing properties. "NingXia Red is infused with the power of lemon and orange essential oils. NingXia Red is a nutritious wolfberry supplement that energizes, fortifies, and replenishes the body. Along with wolfberries, natures most powerful super-fruit, NingXia Red combines five other nutrient dense fruits like blueberries, raspberries and pomegranates to provide energy and an a array of health promoting antioxidants."If you have questions on these, or other Young Living products, please contact me at JenniferSouthern@marketingscents.com or visit my website for more information!
DISCLAIMER: The content of this article is solely for educational purposes. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or mitigate any health condition. As always you should consult the health professional of your choice for specific health information. The author, products mentioned or Young Living is not responsible for its mis-use.
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