Feeding Your Brain

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Feeding Your Brain

As a typical college student, I suffer from daily stresses, lack of sleep and lack of a proper diet. I have pulled countless all nighters; my body and brain fueled only by coffee, chocolate and pizza, in order finish a paper or study for an exam. As a result, I may have done better on the paper or test, but I was being very unkind to my body and brain. In terms of nutrition, it is important to think of the brain as just another organ in the body. The food and other substances we put into our bodies affect our behavior, mood, thoughts and emotions. The brain responds very quickly to proper nutrition. However, as a college student who dines daily in the dining hall, I most likely do not get the nutrients needed to maximize my brain potential. In this paper, I'm going to take you through a day of brain friendly meals and explain why our brains and bodies need more than coffee, chocolate and pizza to thrive and survive.

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs, 1 glass of orange juice and yogurt with fresh blueberries

Most people consume a high carbohydrate breakfast of cereal, toast or pancakes after a night's sleep because the body craves those types of food when its blood sugar level is low. However, meals high in carbohydrates increase the brain's level of the amino acid tryptophan, which increases serotonin levels. Glucose from the digested carbohydrates causes the body to secret insulin. Insulin tells cells to pull amino acids, except tryptophan, out of the blood stream for storage. So, tryptophan keeps circulating and is available for neurons that use it to make serotonin. Serotonin is a calming neurotransmitter that makes you feel relaxed and satisfied. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter for a well-...

... middle of paper ...

...rain properly it seems I would have to give up all of the food luxuries, such as chocolate and the fried foods I simply love. So, my next question is, where do those luxury foods fit in? Why do I crave these brain unfriendly foods and how does the brain deal with the cravings?

WWW Sources

1) Nutrition and Your Brain: Fats for Structure , on the Brain.com web site

http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2015&cat_id=37

2) Nutrition and Your Brain: Fruits and Vegetables for Protection , on the Brain.com web site

http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2164&cat_id=37

3) Nutrition and Your Brain: Carbohydrates for Energy , on the Brain.com web site

http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2163&cat_id=37

4) Nutrition and Your Brain: Proteins for Function , on the Brain.com web site

http://216.34.251.136/about/article.cfm?ID=2016&cat_id=12

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