The brain is one of the most important organs of our body. To maintain a good functioning it is necessary to take care of it continuously.
Neurological diseases currently affect 16 percent of the population. In fact, some of the most common neurological diseases, such as stroke or Alzheimer’s disease, are one of the main causes of death in our country and others, such as migraine, epilepsy or multiple sclerosis, are very disabling and affect the quality of life of the people who suffer from them. For this reason, it is very important to follow some recommendations to prevent, as far as possible, neurological diseases. From the SEN they advise:
Activities that stimulate brain activity and keep us mentally active, such as reading, writing, memorizing phone numbers, participating in table games, doing manual activities, completing crosswords, learning and practicing a new language, etc.
Exercise some kind of physical activity on a regular basis, either by practising a sport or by doing one or two daily walks of at least 30 minutes.
Strengthen social and affective relationships avoiding, social isolation and stress.
Carry out a balanced diet, avoiding excess animal fats and salt and boosting the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
To lead healthy habits of life. For this, they insist on not consuming alcohol, tobacco or drugs and trying to sleep at least 8 hours a day.
Control hypertension, since it is the main risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.
Protect the brain against physical aggression from the outside by systematically using the seat belt on vehicles and the helmet when traveling on a motorcycle.
How does our feeding affect the Brain?
The type of food that we follow is fundamental to get all the nutrients that our body needs and here also the brain is included: depending on our diet the functions that it performs can be altered and its development interrupted.
“In general, the foods that are essential for the development of the brain are those that contain B vitamins, crucial for it to develop normally. The presence of antioxidants, choline, and iron is also critical. The expert specifies that in developed countries, the adult population that follows a varied diet consumes the minimum amounts necessary to meet the requirements of the brain. However, there may be situations in which, due to various diseases or high alcohol consumption, vitamin B consumption is neglected and reduced.
If a person does not get enough vitamin B12 , which we can find, for example, in some dairy products or nuts, among other foods, can begin to develop memory problems and difficulties in the functioning of the neurons, giving rise to neuropathies. On the other hand, there is another vitamin, thiamine, which is part of group B, which when there is a deficit triggers memory disorders that are sometimes not reversible.
What can we do if there is a vitamin B group deficit? The problem is that there is no store in the body to compensate for times when a person does not consume enough vitamin B: you must have a continuous consumption and if someone does not, you can have complications related to different types of diseases. The main foods where we can find this group of vitamins are: spinach, broccoli, red fruits, purple fruits and nuts (especially almonds and hazelnuts).
For people who follow very strict vegetarian diets, which do not include eggs or meat or fish, and therefore do not consume vitamin B12 in the normal amounts needed, they should take supplements to ensure that they get the right amounts.
What kind of diet is best for the brain?
What is the best diet to lead a healthy life and prevent diseases like stroke and dementia? Irimia specifies that the diet plan that best meets all the premises of being healthy, balanced and varied is the Mediterranean diet. There are studies that have shown that the Mediterranean diet is very positive both to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to prevent cognitive impairment, specifically Alzheimer’s dementia,” explains the vowel, who emphasizes that for the benefits of Mediterranean diet really should be noticed in the adult population should be strictly followed for at least one year.
