2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
The brain only needs oxygen and glucose to function. However, many other nutrients are needed to support higher nervous functions such as thinking, memory, and self-control.
The B group of vitamins is most important for the healthy functioning of the brain and nervous system. For example, a lack of vitamin B1 leads to irritability and depression, while a lack of vitamin B6 leads to nervousness and fatigue.
Minerals are directly related to neuronal activity. So, a lack of magnesium leads to nervousness and anxiety.
Unsaturated fatty acids, such as linolenic acid found in nuts, are essential for the development of the nervous system and brain in children.
On the other hand, excessive consumption of sugar and additives such as dyes affects the nervous system and changes behavior.
Nervousness
Definition
The nervous system responds inadequately to normal stimuli, being agitated or irritated.
Causes
All drugs affect the nervous system and cause nervousness or aggravate it. However, in some cases, they can give a feeling of short-term relief, although the negative effect will soon manifest with renewed vigor. Alcohol, coffee and other stimulating drinks, tobacco are the most common causes of nervousness and imbalance in the nervous system.
Treatment
In addition to consuming the recommended foods, you should develop the following healthy habits to help combat anxiety:
- Eat a good breakfast to avoid the hypoglycemia (lack of sugar in the blood), which usually occurs in the middle of the morning, and can make you nervous and irritable.
- Eat regularly to avoid a sudden drop in blood sugar.
- Get enough sleep.
- Exercise regularly, especially walking or hiking is helpful.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Oats | Stimulating drinks |
| Sprouted wheat | Alcohol |
| Sunflower seeds | White sugar |
| Brazilian nut | |
| Walnut | |
| Lettuce salad | |
| Avocado | |
| Cashew | |
| Apricot | |
| Green pea | |
| Passion fruit | |
| Pollen |
»
Hyperactivity and aggressiveness
Definition
Childhood hyperactivity is an urgent problem in developed countries. Also, among young people and adults, aggression and violence are observed equally.
Diet and other reasons
The close relationship between diet and behavior disorders is becoming more and more evident (Breakey, J. The role of diet and behavior in chilhood. J. Paediatr. Child Health, 33: 190–194 (1997)). In addition to foods that should be reduced or eliminated, there are other causes of hyperactivity and aggression:
- Inadequate breakfast. Children who do not start their day with a full and healthy breakfast suffer from nervousness, fatigue, irritability and even aggressive behavior. The same can be said for adults.
- Lead contamination. Research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh (USA) has shown that children who have been exposed to lead poisoning are more likely than others to demonstrate aggressiveness, antisocial behavior and commit delinquency. Meat from animals and fish raised near industrial areas generally has the highest levels of lead contamination.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Whole grain breads and cereals | Nutritional supplements |
| Sprouted wheat | White sugar |
| Vitamin B1 | Stimulating drinks |
| Alcohol | |
| Meat | |
| Refined flour baked goods |
»
Insomnia
Foods or nutrients
Food choices affect a person's ability to sleep well. The timing of meals is also important.
Eating plentifully, even with healthy foods, can disturb sleep. Ideal for both sleep and digestion, do not eat 2-3 hours before bedtime.
People with insomnia can take a glass of malt drink or a decoction of soothing herbs with honey before bed.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Oats | Stimulating drinks |
| Malt drink | Chocolate |
| Lettuce salad | Spices |
| Carbohydrates | Meat and protein |
| Mature cheeses | |
| Soft drinks |
»
Anorexia nervosa
Definition
This is a psychological disorder that is quite common among teenagers who refuse food in an effort to quickly lose weight. The disorder is caused by low self-esteem, accompanied by varying degrees of malnutrition.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Carbohydrates | White sugar |
| Legumes | Fats |
| Zinc | Wheat bran |
»
Foods or nutrients
As a preventive measure will help:
- a balanced diet from infancy and childhood;
- selection of traditional dishes such as salads, cereals, legumes, potatoes;
- refusal of fast food, sandwiches, chocolate, sweets and ice cream.
Depression
Foods or nutrients
People with depression tend to gravitate towards sweets (confectionery, candy, chocolate, and so on) that have low nutritional value. They may also tend to consume sausages and other meat products that are saturated with fat.
All of these foods can exacerbate depression by placing the patient in a vicious circle. It takes special effort on the part of the patient and his environment to select healthy and attractive food.
If you have an irresistible desire to eat sweets, give preference to dried fruits, honey or molasses. These products contain not only sugar, but also various vitamins and minerals necessary for its absorption.
Whole grains, legumes, nuts and vegetables prepared in a simple way provide more energy than any culinary delight.
Lifestyle
Antidepressants do not replace the need to adhere to a healthy diet and abstain from all types of drugs, including legal ones, since they all affect the nervous system.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Oats | Refined white sugar |
| Sprouted wheat | Saturated fat |
| Chickpeas and almonds | Stimulating drinks |
| Walnut | Alcohol |
| Brazilian nut | |
| Pine nut | |
| Avocado | |
| Brewer's yeast | |
| Royal jelly | |
| Vitamins B1, B6 and C | |
| Lecithin | |
| Folic acid | |
| Pollen | |
| Iron |
»
Stress
Causes
Stress occurs when life events put physical or psychological pressure that a person is unable to withstand.
Psychological stress can be caused by positive reasons (new job) or negative (job loss). In all cases, stress has the same effect on the body.
Impact
Stress can affect all organs and functions of the body, but most of all are subject to its blows:
the heart and cardiovascular system, which are under double stress;
the immune system, which is weakened to enhance other bodily functions. Reduces resistance to infections, cancer and other diseases
Foods or nutrients
Certain foods can help the body adapt to or reduce stress.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Proteins and carbohydrates | Stimulating drinks |
| Walnut | Alcohol |
| Almond nut | White sugar |
| Pine nut | |
| Chickpea | |
| Sprouted wheat | |
| B vitamins | |
| Vitamin C |
»
Headaches and migraines
Definition
Headaches are general painful sensations. Migraine is a type of headache, acute and throbbing, which occurs suddenly and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision.
Causes
There are many reasons for headaches. In some cases, they can be caused by insignificant factors. However, headaches can also be the first signs of a tumor or serious brain damage.
In addition to food, other factors are known that can provoke or aggravate pain:
- allergy;
- nervous tension or stress;
- the approach of menstruation.
Foods or nutrients
There are no known products that can prevent or heal headaches and migraines. But certain foods can trigger them. These foods should be avoided to reduce the likelihood of headaches if you are confident that other possible causes, such as arterial aneurysms or swelling, have been ruled out.
| Reduce or eliminate |
| Alcohol |
| Ripe and cured cheeses |
| Chocolate |
| Molluscs |
| Jerky |
| Protein |
| Nutritional supplements |
| Stimulating drinks |
| White sugar |
| Dairy products |
| Ice cream |
| Citrus |
»
Mental fatigue
Foods or nutrients
Those involved in strenuous mental work require a number of nutrients. Whole grains (especially oats) and oil-containing nuts (especially almonds and walnuts) are most suited to the needs of these people.
| Increase |
| Oats |
| Almond |
| Walnut |
| Sprouted wheat |
»
Anxiety states
Definition
This is an undesirable and unjustified emotional state, mainly psychosomatic. It primarily affects the brain, and then other organs of the body, provoking tachycardia, abdominal pain, disturbances in the functioning of the intestines (alternating constipation - diarrhea).
Deteriorating factors
Anxiety conditions are aggravated by:
- an unbalanced diet for weight loss, as a result of which the body does not receive enough carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals necessary for the health of the nervous system;
- the use of alcoholic beverages, stimulants (caffeine) and tobacco. After a moment of relief, the anxiety tends to get worse. Since all of these substances are, in fact, drugs and addictive, they all have a detrimental effect on the nervous system.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Sprouted wheat | Stimulating drinks |
| Whole grains | Meat |
| Bananas | Alcohol |
| Nuts | |
| Yogurt | |
| Vitamin B6 | |
| Magnesium |
»
Bulimia
Definition
It is the opposite of anorexia: a disorder characterized by uncontrolled appetite. Bulimia tends to alternate with anorexia and is one of the most common eating disorders.
Foods or nutrients
Eliminate all sugary and fatty foods from a bulimic person's diet. Replace these foods with whole grains, salads, and other healthy foods.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Whole grains | White sugar |
| Salads | Fats |
| Fruits | |
| Cellulose |
»
Neuralgia
Definition
This is a disease of the sensory nerves that causes acute burning pain in the area where they are located. In some cases, the cause of the irritation is known, in others it is not.
Foods and nutrients
Foods rich in B vitamins can relieve neuralgic pain.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Sprouted wheat | Alcohol |
| Vitamins B1 and B12 |
»
Epilepsy
Definition
This disease of the central nervous system manifests itself in the form of seizures of varying intensity (from memory lapses or absent-mindedness to severe convulsions with loss of consciousness).
Foods and nutrients
Lack of B vitamins and certain minerals, stress, fatigue, high fever and alcohol consumption are the factors most often provoking seizures.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| B vitamins | Alcohol |
| Folic acid | Sugar substitutes |
| Magnesium | Primrose oil |
| Manganese |
»
Multiple sclerosis
Definition
This disease usually manifests itself between the ages of 25 and 40, and more often affects women.
The reason is the restructuring of the myelin sheath covering the nerves. Depending on which nerves are affected, the disease is accompanied by different symptoms: deterioration of vision, speech, loss of skin sensitivity, motor disorders.
Related factors
The course of this disease is interspersed with periods of deterioration and improvement. Although the causes of multiple sclerosis are not well understood, some foods have been found to aggravate the disease and others to improve. The use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages makes the condition worse.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Vegetable oil | Saturated fat |
| Selenium | Alcohol |
| Whole grains | Meat |
| Legumes | Dairy products |
| Salads | White sugar |
| Fruits |
»
Parkinson's disease
Definition
This disorder usually appears after the age of 50 and is characterized by three main symptoms: muscle stiffness, akinesia (loss of the ability to voluntary movement), and tremors. This is partly due to the fact that the brain stops producing enough dopamine, a substance involved in the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons.
It has been noticed that the use of plant foods rich in vitamins B, C and E slows down the course of the disease.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Whole grains | Saturated fat |
| Fruits | White sugar |
| Vegetables | Stimulating drinks |
| Vegetable oil | |
| Vitamins B1 and E | |
| Folic acid | |
| Niacin |
»
Dementia
It is a progressive and irreversible loss of mental ability caused by many factors.
Studies have shown that regular consumption of certain foods throughout life, mainly animal fats and meat, increases the risk of dementia.
| Reduce or eliminate |
| Alcohol |
| Saturated fat |
| Cholesterol |
| Meat |
| A fish |
»
Alzheimer's disease
Definition
A type of progressive dementia due to degeneration of brain cells. The illness begins with memory lapses, followed by mental insanity, apathy, and depression.
Causes
The causes of the disease are not fully understood. It has been proven that the ingestion of large amounts of aluminum contributes to its onset. Aluminum is toxic to nerve cells. Elevated levels have been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. There is an unproven hypothesis that mercury may also cause Alzheimer's disease.
Prevention
To prevent illness, you should avoid:
- using aluminum cookware, especially when cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes;
- the use of anti-acid medicines containing aluminum;
- drinking soft drinks in aluminum cans;
- tap water if it contains large amounts of aluminum.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Green leafy vegetables | Alcohol |
| Brewer's yeast | Dried cheeses |
| Antioxidants | |
| Vitamin E | |
| Choline |
»
Schizophrenia
Definition
It is an inherited mental disorder characterized by personality changes and hallucinations. Although the condition is hereditary, the cause is unknown. Perhaps schizophrenia is caused by chemical changes in the neurons in the brain.
Foods or nutrients
Diet can improve or worsen the course of the disease. In the absence of specific data, the following is recommended:
- Eat plenty of simply cooked, plant-based foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
- Avoid any foods that can trigger allergies.
- Avoid situations leading to hypoglycemia in which the brain suffers from a lack of glucose. Irregular eating, poor breakfast, or a diet low in carbohydrates are the most common dietary causes.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Sprouted wheat | Alcohol |
| Fruits | Stimulating drinks |
| Vegetables | Nutritional supplements |
| Legumes | Dairy products |
| Nuts |
»
Based on the book ""
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